U.S. and Serbian Officials Break Ground for New Embassy Compound

February 10, 2010

Ambassador Mary Warlick, Minister for the Environment and Spatial Planning Oliver Dulic, Mayor Dragan Djilas of the City of Belgrade and Managing Director for Construction, Facility & Security Management of the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations Rod Evans broke ground for the New Embassy Compound (NEC) in Belgrade today at 12:00 noon.

Ambassador Warlick stressed that this new investment of over $100 million dollars will contribute to the city of Belgrade and anticipated that over five hundred local workers will be employed in the construction. "This new U.S. Embassy will be a symbol of our commitment to an enduring vibrant and lasting partnership between the United States and Serbia, as well as our commitment to work together with Serbia to find lasting solutions to our common challenges," Ambassador Warlick stated.

The New Embassy Compound will be the first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified building in Serbia and will serve to encourage greater interest in Green Building initiatives. The NEC will be constructed by Framaco International of Rye Brook, New York, while the compound was designed by the architectural firm of Louis Berger Group of Morristown, New Jersey.

The proposed completion date for the NEC is 2012.