Overseas Buildings Operations

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Happy Thanksgiving! Today and every day, we are grateful to all of our partners for their collaboration in building the most effective facilities for U.S. diplomacy, ensuring the United States is safer, stronger, and more prosperous.

OBO Builds Safety.

U.S. Embassy Niamey:
Architect: The Miller Hull Partnership
General Contractor: BL Harbert International
Photography: Kevin Scott

U.S. Embassy Ankara:
Architect: Ennead Architects
General Contractor: BL Harbert International
Photography: Scott Frances

Big win for U.S. Diplomacy in Nicosia!

After four years of dedicated effort led by OBO's Directorate of Planning and Real Estate (PRE), OBO has officially acquired eight new staff housing units in one of Nicosia’s most desirable neighborhoods.

These modern, energy-efficient residences are not only a major quality-of-life upgrade—they’ll also save the U.S. government over $300,000 annually in rental costs.

OBO is proud to share that US Embassy Guatemala and U.S. Embassy Asunción, Paraguay have been certified as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Silver by the Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI ®), marking the bureau's 24th and 25th LEED® Silver Certification respectively.

Silver LEED® certificates are awarded to projects with exceptional overall building performance. Both embassies employ rigorous energy and water-saving strategies to enhance self-sufficiency, and features like low emitting materials improve indoor air quality.

OBO requires that all new office buildings on overseas diplomatic property achieve a minimum of LEED® Silver Certification to deliver a high-performance setting for embassy staff to conduct diplomacy.

📍 Frankfurt, Germany

OBO's Asset Management team recently finalized the purchase of 16 staff-housing units in a landmark mixed-use development.

These sought-after units are a welcome addition to the Consulate’s housing portfolio, providing modern, well-located accommodations for staff while delivering significant annual rental cost savings. Another win for American prosperity.

OBO thanks The Miller Hull Partnership for their partnership in crafting this lasting symbol of diplomacy 👏👏

to July 1, 1960 — the original Embajada de los Estados Unidos en Paraguay looking south toward the main entrance. Built in the 1950s and designed by renowned American modernist architect Chloethiel Woodard Smith and her firm Satterlee & Smith, the site blended International Style architecture with local materials and craftsmanship.

Construction began in 1956 under the supervision of the Danish firm Christiani & Nielsen, using everything from Swedish cement to Italian marble — all shipped hundreds of miles upriver to reach Paraguay.

The new embassy, built in partnership with ZGF Architects and Caddell Construction, was crafted to reflect both American values and Paraguayan heritage. Designed to be modern, secure, and effective, the chancery and support buildings embrace the site’s natural contours, maximize shade, and connect to the surrounding city.

Local stone, handcrafted details, and design cues from Paraguay’s traditional architecture were paired with state-of-the-art building systems to create a diplomatic platform for the 21st century.

Archival photos courtesy of OBO's Office of Cultural Heritage. New embassy photography by Todd Mason.

OBO’s success depends on strong partnerships with industry—and OBO’s Capital Planning Process (CPP) creates a clearer, more reliable foundation for collaboration.

The CPP creates a more structured and predictable framework for contractors while raising the bar to align with OBO’s strategic goals.

Contractors can succeed by:
• Understanding OBO’s priorities.
• Proposing solutions that meet OBO’s CPP metrics.
• Demonstrating value through efficient, impactful results for projects on the Capital Plan.

With the CPP, we’re giving industry partners better visibility and a roadmap to meaningful contributions in support of our mission. This structured system ensures contractors contribute meaningfully to OBO’s mission of building and maintaining safe, efficient, and effective facilities for U.S. diplomacy.

You can access OBO’s CPP here:https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/OBO-Forecast.pdf

At OBO, every dollar counts. That’s why we’ve built the Capital Planning Process (CPP) to make smart, accountable decisions about our global facilities.

The CPP ensures transparency and accountability by allocating taxpayer dollars efficiently by directing resources to the most critical projects. Every decision is grounded in measurable criteria and an objective evaluation process. This approach guarantees that funds are used responsibly to improve diplomatic platforms that serve U.S. citizens and diplomats worldwide.

CPP turns data into action—delivering results that protect our people, serve the mission, and respect the investment of American taxpayers.

You can access OBO’s CPP here:https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/OBO-Forecast.pdf