Housing more than 20 agencies and 700 employees, the U.S. Embassy complex in Beijing is the second-largest embassy compound ever built by the federal government. To mitigate its scale and to create a welcoming aesthetic, SOM divided the complex into “neighborhoods” based on functional requirements.

Eight buildings make up the 4-hectare site, including a consular services building, marine barracks, and perimeter inspection stations. The centerpiece of the complex is a gleaming, eight-story glass box whose curtain wall shifts between transparent, translucent, and opaque glass panels. At night, the illuminated office building calls to mind a traditional paper lantern.

Additional information: https://www.som.com/projects/us_embassy__beijing

Project Title: United States Embassy Annex
Location: Beijing, China
Size: 79,997 SF Office Annex
Phase: Completed in 2015 while with SOM