Ankara, Turkey
Designed by Ennead Architects, U.S. Embassy Compound in Ankara echoes the local, rich architectural traditions while seamlessly integrating rigorous sustainability strategies that minimize the building’s impact on the local environment.
Located on a nine-acre site in the Söğütözü business district, the building’s design prioritizes the use of native vegetation to benefit local wildlife and conserve water.
Designed as a series of courtyards that rise up the steeply sloped site, the site plan creates a formal organizational structure for the circulation of visitors and staff across the campus.
The Main Arrival Court is generously landscaped with trees and lush plantings restoring green space to the urban streetscape.
Upon passing through the entry pavilions, visitors follow the visual and physical path that weaves through the gardens toward the chancery, a singular architectural structure with a series of internal courtyards.
The courtyard provides secure, private outdoor spaces for the embassy community to gather.
The building design offers a strong presence for the new U.S. Embassy that balances transparency and openness with security.
A monumental lobby highlights the rich material traditions of Turkey including local Marmara marble, various travertines, native woods, and local ceramics.
The space was also designed to highlight the Art in Embassy program which offers an artist an opportunity to create a site-specific art piece for the Diplomatic community and their visitors.
The main courtyard is the center around which community and shared programs are located.
It is landscaped with native plantings and designed as several gathering spaces within the whole, larger ones for formal gatherings and smaller gardens for casual repose.
The courtyard features an ultra-high-performance concrete screen based on traditional Turkish precedents.
The Chancery façade is built with local stone connecting the Embassy to its local context.
The stone is also designed to create screens that provide the security and privacy an embassy requires while simultaneously providing solar control, daylight, and views of the city beyond.
Project: U.S. Embassy Compound in Ankara
Architects: Ennead Architects LLP
Design Team: Richard Olcott, Kevin McClurkan, Kate Mann, Felicia Berger, Christopher Halloran, Stefan Abel, Kristen Alexander, Peter Broughton, Kori Camacho-Onal, Edward Chang, Magdalena Checo, Darla Elsbernd, Erkan Emre, Dalia Hamati, Wanlika Kaewkamchand, Janice Leong, Ryan Lewandowski, Sandra Marcatili, Stephanie Mauer, Amy Mielke, Dona Orozova, Lynette Salas, Suzanne Troiano, and Margaret Tyrpa
Client: U.S. Department of State – Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations
Photographs: Courtesy of USA Embassy Ankara and Ennead Architects