In an important symbol of our enduring friendship with the Kingdom of Norway, Ambassador Barry White broke ground on the new Embassy in Oslo today. Mayor of Oslo, the Honorable Fabian Stang; Director of Oslo Planning and Building Authority, Ellen de Vibe; Secretary His Majesty The King’s Cabinet, Knut Brakstad; as well as Deputy Chief of Protocol Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Oystein Braathen, attended the groundbreaking ceremony.

Situated on a 10-acre site, the multi-building complex will include a chancery, an underground support annex, three entry pavilions, and Marine security guard quarters. When completed, the new facility will provide approximately 200 embassy employees with a state-of-the-art workspace.

The new facility will incorporate numerous sustainable features, including a restored stream that will become a key landscape feature and contribute to storm water management. Other sustainable features are a green roof on one building, use of natural daylight for energy savings, and a ground-source heat exchange system that will allow the Embassy to meet nearly 100 percent of its heating load. The new Embassy site is also located within 300 meters of public transportation and includes more than 45 bicycle parking spaces. The facility is targeting Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Silver Certification by the Green Building Certification Institute.

The $228 million project will be constructed by Walsh Global, LLC of Chicago, Illinois and the architect of record is EYP Architecture & Engineering. The new Embassy is scheduled to be completed in the spring of 2015.

Since 1999, as part of the Department’s Capital Security Construction Program, Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO) has completed 89 new diplomatic facilities and has moved more than 27,000 people into safe, secure, and functional facilities. OBO has an additional 43 projects in design or construction, including the new Embassy in Oslo.

OBO’s mission is to provide safe, secure and functional facilities that represent the U.S. Government to the host nation and support our staff in the achievement of U.S. foreign policy objectives. These facilities should represent American values and the best in American architecture, engineering, technology, sustainability, art, culture, and construction execution. For more information, please visit 2009-2017.state.gov/obo, or contact Christine Foushee at FousheeCT@state.gov or (703) 875-4131.