U.S. State Department Selects Architecture Firms for Global Diplomatic Building Program Through 2031

The U.S. Department of State has chosen ten architecture firms to provide design services for diplomatic facilities worldwide through the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO). The selection followed a competitive two-stage process that began in March 2024 and received over 100 submissions. The firms will support OBO's mission for the next five years under an Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity contract. Selected practices include Duvall Decker – Spacesmith (joint venture), Ennead Architects, KieranTimberlake, Krueck & Sexton Architects, Lever Architecture, Morphosis Architects, REX Architecture, Richärd Kennedy Architects, Thomas Phifer & Partners, and Weiss/Manfredi Architects. OBO stated these regionally diverse firms will help deliver secure, resilient diplomatic facilities that support U.S. foreign policy objectives. Several firm leaders already participate in OBO's Industry Advisory Group. The bureau is currently seeking design/build proposals for a new embassy compound in Tallinn, Estonia, with responses due April 13 and completion targeted for 2031. This selection continues OBO's longstanding practice of engaging prominent architects for diplomatic construction projects, which expanded significantly after 1998 embassy bombings in Africa led to security upgrades. The bureau was formally established in 2001 following the 9/11 attacks. Previous OBO projects include embassies by Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects in Mexico City, Studio Gang in Brasilia, and completed works by several newly selected firms such as Ennead's embassy in Ankara and KieranTimberlake's London embassy. The program has occasionally faced controversy, including a 2025 directive to remove DEI and climate language from project statements and criticism of Krueck & Sexton's involvement in a Jerusalem embassy project on disputed land.