Located in Niamey, Niger, the Department of State’s Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations’ new U.S. Embassy is the first LEED Platinum certified project in West Africa and OBO’s third Platinum certification in its diplomatic portfolio. The unique project exceeded all expectations by using a design-build model that employed an integrative design process prioritizing strategies of resilience within the regional context and climate. Under the Excellence Initiative, the project meets the functional and security requirements of missions abroad while demonstrating American values and ingenuity in architecture, engineering, technology, construction, sustainability, art, and culture.

The multi-building campus is situated on an existing 10-acre embassy site and includes new buildings that replace aging structures. The design team embraced situational challenges to advance sustainability and resilience, resulting in the project surpassing the required LEED Silver certification and ultimately achieving LEED Platinum. Implemented energy strategies, including an environmentally responsive envelope, variable speed chillers, advanced controls, LED lighting and daylight controls, and onsite renewables over parking areas make the embassy more resilient in the face of climate change and desertification. As a result, the demands on Nigerʼs infrastructure were greatly reduced while showcasing the project's innovative technology.

The early water budget identified tactics that would become an integral part of the project’s strategy for water management and on-site treatment of blackwater. Innovative strategies in civil engineering and landscape architecture contribute to effective stormwater management. The project has an EUI after a renewable contribution of 27 kBtu/SF, and reduces costs by 65% over a comparable new building.

Embodied carbon is accounted for in the structure and building envelope, and the team pursued a pilot credit for Integrated Analysis of Building Materials. The use of high-performing cooling and ventilation systems contributes to the building’s superior indoor air quality and overall comfort.

The design relates to the local climate and regional context, with native landscape patterns woven throughout the site in structural and finish elements. Cues are taken from endemic regional forms and materials like sand, concrete, and red metal oxide primer; a series of screens and canopies evocative of traditionally used acacia limbs shield buildings from the intense West African sun. A large shaded exterior courtyard extends the gallery, an important community space in the building. Works of art from Nigerien and American artists celebrate the cultural connections between Niger and the United States. Approximately 1,700 American, local, and national staff were involved in construction, with 1,500 Nigeriens participating in the build. The team contributed more than 6 million work hours, with a $53 million investment in the local economy.