by Nick Ames

California architect firm Morphosis has designed a new US Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon and the US State Department has granted the construction contract to BL Harbert of Birmingham, Alabama. A department spokesperson said “The multi-building complex will be situated on a 43-acre site in Awkar, near the current US Embassy compound. “The new complex will include a Chancery, a Marine Security Guard Residence, representational and staff housing, facilities for the community and associated support facilities. The project is expected to be ready for occupancy in 2023.” Initial visualisations of the project are expected to be released in the coming weeks.

The project represents the latest effort of the Department’s Capital Security Construction Programme, called the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations. It has completed 133 new diplomatic facilities in the past 18 years, with an additional 52 projects currently in the design stage or under construction.