Introduction

The United States is building a new Embassy in London!  Beginning in 2008 when we announced the purchase of a site in the Nine Elms area of Wandsworth, and ending in 2017 when we are scheduled to move into a new facility, this is a process that will produce a modern, welcoming, safe and energy efficient embassy for the 21st century.  On this page you will learn about each step of this process, and have a chance to tell us what you think about it. 

As Ambassador Susman said in announcing the winning design project by KieranTimberlake, “We hope to contribute to the architectural heritage and future history of this great city. But ultimately this project is about people. The dedicated people who work with us; the people who work every day to strengthen U.S.-UK relations; the people who visit the Embassy for services or events; and most importantly, the people who live and work in Nine Elms, Battersea and Wandsworth. We will be, now and in the future, a vital contributor and a good citizen in the community of our new home.”

Bookmark this page so you can stay up to date on this exciting project.  For questions or comments concerning the New London Embassy project, please email us at:     NewUSEmbassyLondon-DL@state.gov

News

Image: View from the East © KieranTimberlake/studio amd

13 July 2012
A briefing on the new U.S. Embassy London    On Wednesday 18th July, we broadcast a presentation on the new building’s design where viewers had the chance to watch and ask questions.

05 April 2012
Early Contractor Involvement Selection Announced for New London Embassy

14 September 2010
U.S. Embassy Official Speaks to Vauxhall Civic Society On September 14, Information Officer Philip Breeden spoke to the Vauxhall Civic Society about the new U.S. Embassy project to be built in the Nine Elms area of Wandsworth in London.

10 August 2010
Aerial View of Nine Elms site An aerial view of the Nine Elms site with the new Embassy location highlighted is now available. If you have comments or questions on our new home, please contact us at NewUSEmbassyLondon-DL@state.gov

22 June 2010
Battersea Park Library Exhibit Showcases Embassy Design    Battersea Park library hosted an exhibition showing the winning design for the new American embassy planned for Nine Elms as part of this month's London Festival of Architecture.  Embassy press attaché Philip Breeden gave a talk at the library to 40 local residents to outline how the Nine Elms site was chosen, how the design was developed, and how the new building hopes to contribute to the Nine Elms regeneration project.  

26 May 2010
New London Embassy Design Competition Exhibit Officially Opens  The New London Embassy design competition exhibit has officially opened at the headquarters of the American Institute of Architects in Washington, D.C.

10 May 2010
New design drawings of the new Embassy added to Flickr!

26 April 2010
Architect for New U.S. Embassy Wins Accolades for Sustainable Post-Katrina New Orleans home  The American Institute of Architects and its Committee on the Environment have announced that the Special NO 9 House designed by Philadelphia-based architects KieranTimberlake has been named a ‘Top Ten Green Project’ for 2010.

11 March 2010
Video: The New U.S. Embassy Design: Open, Green and Coming to Wandsworth
The winning design of the new U.S. Embassy in London has recently been announced. Press Officer Emily Armitage explains how winning architects KieranTimberlake have created an eye-catching and environmentally friendly concept that will be part of the redevelopment of the Nine Elms area of London.

23 February 2010
Winners of New U.S. Embassy Design contest announced!
U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Louis B. Susman, and Acting Director of the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations, Adam Namm, announced today that KieranTimberlake of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania has won the design competition for the New London Embassy.... more information
 • High resolution images and video
 • Statement by Ambassador Susman
 • Remarks by James Timberlake
 • Remarks by Adam E. Namm
 • Winning Design Concept
 • Building Energy Efficiency and Environmental Design

03 November 2009
Sale of U.S. Embassy in London The U.S. State Department has entered into an agreement to sell the Chancery in London, located in Grosvenor Square.  The sale is to Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company headquartered in Doha, Qatar.  The agreement was signed for the United States by the U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Louis B. Susman.

17 September 2009
Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations to Receive Golden Shears Award  SAVE International will present the Golden Shears Award to the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations at a Capitol Hill reception tonight. Deputy Director Lydia Muniz will accept the award on behalf of the bureau.

17 September 2009 Ambassador Susman Welcomes Wandsworth Council's Resolution To Grant Outline Planning Permission For The Building Of A New U.S. Embassy

10 March 2009
Department of State Selects Final Architectural Firms To Prepare Designs for the New London Embassy  The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO) announced that four architectural firms have been selected for the final phase of the design competition for the new United States Embassy in London.
The four finalists are:-
 • Kieran Timberlake
 • Morphosis Architects
 • PEI Cobb Freed & Partners
 • Richard Meier & Partners

Here is a snapshot of the final four (PDF - 415kb) .

09 January 2009 
The New US Embassy design competition jury, which includes notable British and American figures from the design and architecture fields, will meet the press today at the conclusion of their visit to London. Updated information will be posted here. The design process is expected to be concluded with a winner announced by the end of August 2009.

02 January 2009
 The Department of State Selects the Jury and Architectural Firms for the London New Embassy Design Competition  The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations today announced the jury and nine architectural firms that have been invited to participate in the second phase of the design competition for the new U.S. Embassy in London.

02 October 2008 
U.S. Takes First Steps Toward Embassy Relocation  Meeting the challenge of providing a modern, open and secure American diplomatic facility in London, the U.S. State Department today signed a conditional agreement with the real estate developer Ballymore to acquire a site in the Nine Elms Opportunity Area in Wandsworth for the construction of a new Embassy.