N’Djamena, Chad - U.S. Ambassador to Chad James Knight broke ground on the new U.S. Embassy in N’Djamena today, a milestone in the enduring friendship with the Republic of Chad.

The new Embassy will be situated on a 12-acre site southeast of downtown N’Djamena, and will include a chancery, a U.S. Marine Corps residence, a support annex/warehouse, a utility building, and facilities for the Embassy community.

The $225 million project will incorporate numerous sustainable features and targets Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council.

The design architect is Moore Ruble Yudell Architects & Planners of Santa Monica, California, and Page of Arlington, Virginia is the architect of record. BL Harbert International of Birmingham, Alabama will construct the project, with anticipated completion in late 2016.

OBO’s mission is to provide safe, secure, and functional facilities that represent the U.S. government to the host nation and support our staff in the achievement of U.S. foreign policy objectives. These facilities should represent American values and the best in American architecture, engineering, technology, sustainability, art, culture, and construction execution.