Embassy Fact Sheets

EMBASSY FACTS

What it is:

  • 8 buildings on 4.06 hectares (10 acres)
  • 7111 square-meter main embassy building
  • State-of-the-art in energy efficiency
  • Home to 178 employees, including 142 Burundians
  • Designed by Einhorn Yaffee Prescott
  • Constructed by Caddell Construction of Montgomery, Alabama; managed by Office of Buildings Oversees (OBO)

What it took:

  • 2 years of planning and design;
  • 30 months of construction
  • $133 million investment including contracted and internal costs
  • Approximately 600 Burundian jobs/workers, in excess of 3 million manhours worked
  • Millions of dollars infused into the local economy through jobs and purchase of local goods

Marks of distinction:

  • Silver-certified Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®)
  • A modern Information Resource Library (IRC), featuring easy internet access and a collection of over 2500 books, film and magazines
  • Multipurpose room for speakers, film showings and training
  • Modern consular section with comfortable waiting areas
  • Local fieldstone on portions of the compound perimeter wall and several buildings
  • An art collection of works by Burundian and American artists
  • A swimming pool, a basketball court, fitness center, health center and cafeteria

A Green Building

  • Designed to use less energy and water than standard office buildings
  • 960 solar panels
  • Landscaped to promote water conservation by capturing rainfall, recycling treated waste water and drip irrigation.
  • Energy efficient mechanical systems to minimize energy consumption
  • Cooling systems free of Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) refrigerants
  • Occupancy sensors that automatically turn off lights
  • Specially treated glazed windows that admit daylight without increasing heat.