by Heather Livingston
Contributing Editor

How do you . . . design a high-security embassy in a foreign country without sacrificing sustainability goals?

Summary: Balancing the twin rigors of security and sustainability, the new U.S. Embassy in Panama City, Panama, has earned LEED® certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. Designed by Einhorn Yaffee Prescott, Architecture & Engineering PC, the Panamanian facility is only the second American embassy to achieve LEED certification.

Located on a 43-acre sloping site, the $69 million embassy was designed to consolidate and replace aging facilities that were disbursed throughout Panama City, says James Ball, LEED-AP, EYP project director. “The new embassy enabled the government to consolidate all the facilities into one compound that is designed to today’s safety standards,” Ball explains. “The new embassy will enable the government to serve the citizens of Panama quicker and in a more comfortable facility.”

Completed in June 2007, the embassy includes two kilometers (1.24 miles) of perimeter wall and fences; three compound access control facilities; a four-story chancery building with 110 desks; a two-story Marine security guard quarters; a utility building; a warehouse; a support annex; recreation facilities that include a pool, basketball court, tennis court, and cabana; and parking for 290 vehicles. The chancery building measures more than 150,000 square feet.

In the vernacular
The design of the embassy compound incorporates a number of local cultural features and indigenous materials, though not in a literal fashion, reports Ball. Both the chancery and the Marine security guard quarters feature sun-shading strategies on the exterior of the buildings, much like the wood porches and shutters found on many historic structures within Panama City. The use of color is another key vernacular design element, with historic buildings predominately rendered with a stucco finish and strong color. All structures within the embassy compound have a strongly colored base 800mm (2.62 feet) high. The red granite or stucco base color was selected for its complement to the soil within the site, a red clay, and visually anchors the building to the site. The upper portions of the elevations are rendered in white stone or stucco, as is commonly found on both civic and residential structures throughout Panama.

Sustainable considerations
EYP AE’s approach to building and material sustainability began with site considerations, such as an erosion and sedimentation control plan. To lessen the urban heat island effect in the tropical climate, hard surface areas were minimized with landscaping, and the site was developed to promote mass transit and cycling. In addition, an area two times the footprint of the building will be preserved for the lifetime of the embassy.

The use of low-flow bathroom fixtures has reduced water consumption for irrigation by 50 percent and for potable water by 32 percent. Energy efficiency measures include roof insulation, lighting controls, and HVAC standards, resulting in energy consumption levels 28 percent improved over ASHRAE guidelines. More than 32 percent of the building materials were produced within 500 miles of the project site, and efficient waste collection and dedicated recycling facilities were integral to the building design. The building’s indoor environment is monitored to provide the highest air quality possible. Finally, the embassy provides an educational program for the inhabitants, explaining the integration of security and sustainable design strategies, technologies, and benefits so they may better understand how design decisions affect their personal environment.

Balancing security with sustainability
In addition to the requirements of LEED certification requested by the Department of State, EYP AE also had to address considerable security standards. Due to the size and complexity of embassy design, EYP employed consultants for several disciplines, but the security issues were addressed by in-house staff, reports Ball.

“To achieve a LEED-certified building, the owner, builder, and design team must plan ahead,” Ball explains. “The Department of State, along with EYP AE, developed a LEED score card that is now incorporated into each new embassy compound contract. This score card rates each possible point as recommended, alternate, optional, or N/A. The points that are sought avoid costly or difficult details.”

Ball notes that the architect must bear in mind the difficulties of building a secure facility in a foreign country throughout the design process. “You must remember where the project is being built, how the contractor is going to be getting materials to the site, and who is doing the work,” he says. “It is not like designing a project in New York City, or any other U.S. city. The entire team must select early in the planning phase which LEED points are going to be attempted to avoid costly or difficult points.”