Within the bustling, vibrant city of Kampala, the capital of Uganda, BNIM was tasked with designing an expansion to the existing United States Embassy building to accommodate growing campus facility needs and showcase the tenets of eco-diplomacy in an ever-changing built environment. It was imperative to create a facility that is sensitive to the culture, the place, and the climate, as well as providing a new workplace that provides a healthy environment for all employees.

A new land acquisition adjacent to the existing Embassy building allowed for an expansion that is comprised of a new, 58,566 SF, 3-story office annex; renovation within the existing Chancery building; adding 97 surface parking spaces; a new 71,268 SF, 2-story parking garage for 200 spaces; a new 11,786 SF utility building; and a new 26,996 SF, 2-story support annex facility that brings vehicle maintenance, security function, storage and shops to the campus.

This design overcomes the prior site limitations by relocating parking into a new structure, moving the security wall to property line as a friendlier relationship to the community, and positioning future development within the site. The transformational changes made respond to the intersecting geometries of the primary roadways and the existing building organizations of the adjacent neighborhoods.  It integrates old and new as a composition that enhances the presence of the chancery and its campus and elevates the experiences of all users and visitors. Generous representation space, entrance plaza, dining terraces and a consular entrance garden expand landscaped areas immediately inside the new perimeter.

The open office floor plans for the workplace expansion allow flexibility For future growth and reconfiguration of work spaces.  Access to controlled daylight is the focus of the workspace layouts and ceiling configurations. Shared employee spaces, including kitchenette/work rooms, are centrally located adjacent to the vertical circulation to encourage more social interaction and collaboration. New dining facilities for the campus continue to intentionally redefine the center of gravity of the office and Chancery.

The design for shading and building enclosure systems plays a strong role in providing for user comfort and the conservation of energy by helping to reduce the cooling load demands, allowing for optimization of the building internal systems. Cladding materials and systems were selected for their aesthetic impacts as well as performance characteristics to provide a long in-service life and reduce maintenance.