New Embassy Compound (NEC) Beijing, China
The new U.S. Embassy in Beijing, China, is a safe, secure, and functional state-of-the-art facility. The Beijing New Embassy Compound (NEC) is the second largest overseas construction project in the history of the Department of State.
The new U.S. Embassy in Beijing, China, is a safe, secure, and functional state-of-the-art facility. The Beijing New Embassy Compound (NEC) is the second largest overseas construction project in the history of the Department of State.
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The multi-building complex is on a 10-acre (4-hectare) site, creating a secure and pleasant environment for approximately 950 employees.The NEC buildings represent the best in modern American architecture, while the landscape design borrows heavily from Chinese planning principles.
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The NEC consists of five buildings each with specific functions: an 8-story main chancery, an adjacent 3-story Atrium office building, a Marine Security Guard Quarters, a consular building, and a parking and utility structure/ancillary guard structure. The compound is located northeast of the Forbidden City in Beijing's Third Diplomatic Enclave, in the Liang Ma He neighborhood just outside the Third Ring Road.
- The NEC’s buildings are modern, yet the compound is rooted in traditional Chinese forms. The buildings are separate from each other, but are all connected by narrow hutong-like walkways lined with bamboo, and are linked by a series of landscaped gardens or "outdoor rooms" that tie the complex together. The NEC includes three "neighborhoods" modeled on the urban gardens and courtyards of China: a consular neighborhood to the east end of the site, a professional neighborhood in the center, and a community neighborhood at the west end. All the neighborhoods are joined together by gardens, courtyards, wooden bridges, and a lotus pond.
- The centerpiece of the embassy is the 8-story chancery building wrapped in an outer scrim of transparent, translucent, and opaque glass, floating free of the main structure. The qualities of the floating glass envelope change as light changes throughout the day. At night the glass glows like a lantern – or beacon.
- The adjacent 3-story building’s atrium is designed to foster a sense of community among the staff in a safe, secure, and functional environment.
- In the area in front of the consular section, the perimeter wall shifts from concrete to thick transparent glass, allowing Chinese visitors to observe the reflecting pool and American artwork. Once inside, they will step on a wooden bridge across the reflecting pool that leads to the 50-foot outdoor terrace.
- The NEC represents the best of 21st Century American architecture, woven into the Chinese earth and symbolically combining eastern and western traditions. The size and scope of the U.S. mission in China reflects not only the importance of the U.S.-China bilateral relationship, but also the breadth of issues in which the two countries are engaged as this new century progresses.
SAFETY
- In response to the high seismic risk that exists in China, the new buildings incorporate highly sophisticated earthquake resistant design features. This includes flexible connections between large structural members and movement restraints on all equipment and fixtures.
- The design of the NEC was also shaped by security considerations. The complex is protected by a perimeter wall, with a buffer of landscaped grounds between the wall and the outside of the buildings. These features are standard security aspects of all Department of State new embassy projects.
FACTS
- Ground Breaking: Ceremony held on February 10, 2004 (Participants: U.S. Ambassador Clark T. Randt, Jr. and Vice Foreign Minister Zhou Wenzhong and several other Chinese Officials)
- Construction Commenced: May 28, 2004
- "Topped out": April 11, 2007
- Dedication: August 8, 2008
- Cost: $434 million USD (2,976,632,400.00 CNY)
- Number of Local workers who assisted in construction: 10,000
- Site area: 10 acres (4 hectares)
- Project area: 500,000 square feet (152,400 square meters)
- Number of U.S. agencies housed: more than 20 federal agencies
- Designed by: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, LLP, Architects (SOM) of San Francisco, California
- Landscape Designer: Peter Walker and Associates, Berkeley, California
- General Construction Contractor: Zachry Caddell Joint Venture (ZCJV)
- Zachry Construction Corporation, San Antonio, Texas
- Caddell Construction Company, Montgomery, Alabama
- Selection of the Architect Firm: The Architect Team was selected through a Federal Design Excellence program competition, during a 1-year selection process where the Department of State sought to obtain the "best in American architecture." Architects submitted their portfolios for review to a nationally renowned panel of architects and Department of State officials. The field was narrowed and interviews were conducted, after which the field was reduced further to five teams that were invited to participate in the design competition. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, LLP, Architects (SOM), of San Francisco, California won the competition.
- Need for new embassy: The plans for and eventual construction of the NEC began in the mid-1990s when property discussions were initiated with the Chinese Government. These discussions were held because previous embassy facilities did not meet functional, life-safety, or security standards. With buildings on three distinct compounds, and embassy offices located at 20 sites around Beijing, there was a need to co-locate personnel onto a single compound. In addition, the demand for consular services in Beijing was increasing.
Environmental Sustainability Aspects
The Department of State emphasized energy efficiency and sustainable design when constructing the NEC. The NEC is constructed with materials known to have low life-cycle costs and high quality. The use of extensive natural light helps keep energy costs low, while providing efficient work areas for employees. Thermal inertia and use of natural light will decrease energy consumption. Storm water will be retained on site and purified through a series of lotus ponds. White roofs along with state-of-the-art mechanical systems will reduce consumption and carbon emissions.
Art Aspects
The Beijing NEC exhibits contemporary art works by at least 18 prominent American and Chinese artists including Maya Lin, Cai Guo-Qiang, Betty Woodman, Robert Rauschenberg, Yun-Fei Ji, Jeff Koons, Hai Bo, and Martin Puryear.
The selection of the artwork was motivated by cultural sensitivity and diplomacy. The Department of State owns all of the works, except Jeff Koons’ steel sculpture Tulips, which is on a 10-year loan. Tulips is located outside the consular building.
The Foundation for Art and Preservation in Embassies (FAPE) will install four sculptures by Ellsworth Kelly, Martin Puryear, and Louise Bourgeois. FAPE is a non-profit organization that helps acquire art for display in U.S. diplomatic buildings.
