Controls solar heat. Facades that change the color of building walls with natural light.

The new embassy building was constructed in conjunction with the relocation of the U.S. Embassy in the United Kingdom. The newly completed building is clad in an ETFE film facade and was designed, fabricated, and constructed by Birdair Inc. andTaiyo Europe GmbH. The U.S. Embassy, which had been located on the west side of Grosvenor Square in Mayfair since 1960, was planned to move to the Nine Elms area, primarily due to security concerns. The new embassy, designed by Kieran Timberlake, was intended to meet high security requirements while providing an open impression to visitors. The completed 65 meter high, 12-story glass cube overlooks the River Thames and is surrounded by a semi-circular pond. The facility employs approximately 800 staff and is visited daily by more than 1,000 people. ETFE film facades in the shape of “sails” cover the east, south, and west facades of the building. A total of 399 “sails” cover a total area of 8,125 square meters, supported by a 180-ton structural aluminum frame and 57 carbon steel superstructure attachments. Unlike conventional construction procedures for façade structures, this structure was planned to be constructed with rope access, which was successfully accomplished with the skill and meticulous planning of the construction crews. The ETFE film façade provides uniform new natural light to the interior while limiting solar heat buildup and glare. The surface of the façade appears to change color depending on the weather and the position of the sun. Birdair Inc. and Taiyo Europe GmbH. worked with structural engineering firm ARUP, prime contractor B.L. HARBERT INTERNATIONAL and Sir Robert McAlpine to complete the ETFE portion of the structure. The project was completed in January 2018 for the U.S. Embassy in the United Kingdom.

 

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