The new Beijing US Embassy, the second largest in the world (after Iraq), is a sign of the unparalleled importance of US-China relations going forward.
Beijing U.S. Embassy – Photos
I first saw pictures of the Embassy on Wangjianshuo’s site:
photo courtesy Wangjianshuo.com under Creative Commons by-sa 2.5
photo courtesy US Embassy Beijing
Scale Model of the Beijing Embassy:
photo courtesy Beijing US Embassy and Skidmore Owings & Merrill
Plan of US Embassy in Beijing:
plan courtesy Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
Beijing US Embassy Facts:
- Beijing Embassy houses staff of 1,100 representing 26 agencies, according to Ambassador Clark T. Randt.
- Project Size: 500,000 square feet of space
- Site Area: 10 acres
- Stories: 8
- Building Height: 45 meters
- Construction started: 5/28/2004
- Cost: $434 mm USD / RMB 2,976,632,400
- Number of local workers who helped in the construction: 1,500
- Designed by team from San Francisco office of Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill, led by Craig Hartman
Beijing Embassy Artwork:
Art includes Jeff Koons sculpture, Tulips; art by Cai Guoqiang; piece by Maya Lin. Also Betty Woodman, Robert Rauschenberg, Yun-fei Ji, Hai Bo.
Photo of Jeff Koons, Tulips. Not sure if this is the same one:
photo from Wikipedia
According to China Daily , Cai Guoqiang’s piece has special significance:
Chinese artist Cai Guoqiang’s Gun Powder work Eagle Landing on the Pine Branch is displayed inside the Atrium Office building of the new US Embassy compound in Beijing, August 5, 2008. The motifs of eagle and pine trees were chosen for their symbolic value in both China and the United States, representing the friendship and cooperation between the two countries. Cai Guoqiang, trained in stage design at the Shanghai Drama Institute, is renowned for his gunpowder works on paper and is one of the major stage designers for the Closing Ceremony of the upcoming Beijing Olympic Games.
Here is a photo of the piece:
Photo courtesy China Daily
More facts can be found on the US Embassy Fact Sheet for the NEC (New Embassy Compound)
Beijing Embassy Location (according to Wangjianshuo):
- located near Beijing Airport Express Sanyuanqiao Station (see Beijing Subway Guide on CNReviews, Beijing Subway on Beijingology)
- located near Liangmahe Station of Line 10 Subway
I’m sure things are busy there during the Games!
Where’s my room. Good timing. I hope this building or compound was built without any bugs. Do you remember what happened when the US Embassy was built in Moscow? They had to practically take it down. Impressive never the less
I worked on the construction of this embassy complex for a year from 2004-2005 and I know first-hand that the main building where the ambassador’s offices are located is 100% SECURE. After the embassy was found bugged in Moscow in 1987 the Department started building all of their buildings overseas using ALL TOP SECRET CLEARED AMERICANS for the sensitive areas. The other buildings where the host nation will work is built by the host nation to keep the cost down. The amount listed for the cost of this complex isn’t correct. When I left in November 2005 the estimated completion cost was over $640 Million [the most expensive U.S. Gov. bldg overseas at the time]. I hope that sheds light on your comments.
Pat G.
Thanks for this comment Pat G. Nice to know that TOP SECRET clearance required for sensitive areas.
After the recent attack on that American couple in Beijing I am taking my family and heading back to the State. There is not security for tourists in Beijing only at the games. Fear next time at hotels and other tourists spots. Making money is so important to them.
only thing i can say is that you and your point of view are truly pathetic and no place on earth could be safe for you. Because you are forever haunted by your own insecurity.
“Them”?!? Coming from someone named Betty Chen that’s pretty rich. I’m no apologist for China, but Beijing is safer than just about any city in the US.
The attack on the American tourists couple was very shocking to many from the states. Beijing should had metal detector and search people. It so easy for that man to carry that knife on him that killed his victim. It was not a big area for tourists to go up to. Why there were no search made before entering is very lacking of Beijing securtity.
I too is leaving Beijing heading back home after what happen. It could been pervented.
When we have too much security, you blame us for oppressing people.
When we don’t have enough security, you blame us for being a dangerous place to be…
What do you want from us?
The Chinese Government did a great job for the entire world in every respect. The incident was very sad. Does anyone really believe they would be safer elsewhere? I think not. I applaud The Chinese Government for the best olyympics ever held. Thank You!