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.