United States Embassy
Ankara, Turkey

Spacesmith acted as interior architect on the design of the new U.S. embassy in Ankara, Turkey, for the United States Department of State Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO). The new embassy balances transparency and openness with secure design while honoring Turkey’s historic architecture. Meeting OBO’s building performance goals, Spacesmith collaborated closely with prime architect Ennead on the design of a host of functional facilities that ensure a robust platform for U.S. diplomacy abroad.

Located on a 9-acre parcel of land, the largest building on the compound is the 243,000 sf chancery, which provides offices and shared support spaces for a staff of hundreds. Given the long lifespan of this facility, a key focus of the office spaces was flexibility to accommodate change and growth over time. Amenities include a café, a multipurpose room for events, a fitness room, a mail room, and service spaces for the employees’ families.

Nestled into the chancery’s façade is the Marine Residence, which includes bedrooms, amenity spaces, and support spaces for staff. In addition, our team supported the space planning for other structures on the compound, including the warehouse, maintenance shops, staff locker rooms, and pool cabana.

The public spaces are designed to feel open and welcoming, while achieving all necessary requirements. The lofty ceilings in the main lobby and multipurpose room make these areas communicate an airy feeling of transparency. The consular waiting area is a warm and inviting space with a soft neutral color palette, projecting a sense of calm to visitors in potentially stressful situations. The seating areas are oriented to maximize privacy for those at the interview windows, with a clear line of sight to signage and screens providing additional information.