U.S. Embassy Begins Construction of New Annex
In August 2021, the United States began construction of a new annex on the existing U.S. Embassy Bangkok compound, which will support the continued expansion of U.S.-Thai diplomatic, security, and commercial relations and strengthen our ties with the Thai people.
Expected to be completed in 2025, the new building will modernize the U.S. Embassy’s platform for providing Consular services and conducting diplomacy and represents the importance of our longstanding alliance with the Kingdom of Thailand. In more than two centuries of friendship, the United States and Thailand have strengthened cooperation in all sectors, from bilateral trade to international law enforcement to public health. The new annex will house U.S. agencies currently located in different facilities across Bangkok, centralize our existing operations, and further strengthen bilateral cooperation.
Given Thailand’s rise as a regional financial, media, logistics, and transport hub and Bangkok’s role as a host to international organizations, the United States has long used its embassy here as a hub for regional operations. More than half of U.S. Embassy Bangkok staff have regional responsibilities, including managing international development assistance, supporting refugee resettlement across Southeast Asia, coordinating with law enforcement to fight transnational crime, and mobilizing private capital to help solve critical development challenges.
Chargé d’Affaires Michael Heath commented, “This state-of-the-art annex to our Embassy will house the many U.S. Government agencies that partner with Thailand and ASEAN to advance regional priorities, including improving public health, addressing environmental challenges, and combatting transnational crime. Designed to reflect traditional Thai architectural motifs, I hope the new building will become a landmark and a center of Thai-American friendship for many years to come.”
Annex construction will also significantly benefit the local economy. The United States will spend $625 million dollars on this project and employ approximately 2,000 local workers throughout the construction period.
Inspired by Thailand’s architectural heritage and sensitive to the Southeast Asian climate, the contemporary design blends Thai traditions with the best in American architecture, design, engineering, technology, and construction. The project targets Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver Certification and incorporates many features designed to make the building more sustainable. Although an official groundbreaking ceremony has been postponed due to the pandemic, a Brahmin blessing ritual was held in July 2021, and we look forward to celebrating the start of construction with our Thai partners in the coming months.
U.S. Embassy Bangkok is unveiling the new annex. Construction will start this year.
The new building will house the many U.S. agencies that work hand in hand with Thai partners.
The structure is designed to connect with nature and maintain green spaces.
The interiors will reflect the textures, colors, and building traditions of Thailand.
The exterior facade will help reduce energy consumption.
“This state-of-the-art annex to our Embassy will house the many U.S. Government agencies that partner with Thailand and ASEAN to advance regional priorities, including improving public health, addressing environmental challenges, and combatting transnational crime. Designed to reflect traditional Thai architectural motifs, I hope the new building will become a landmark and a center of Thai-American friendship for many years to come.”
Chargé d’Affaires Michael Heath
U.S. Embassy Bangkok