Mason & Hanger provided engineering services for the design-bid-build of the new 134,549 SF New U.S. Embassy compound in The Hague, Netherlands. The embassy is projected to reduce energy costs by 30% compared to a conventional building. This is accomplished through the use of high efficiency, energy conserving equipment and devices including the use of geo-thermal for the heating and cooling. The site has a high water table, as well as an abundance of rainfall. To take advantage of this, rainwater harvesting is used to capture the rain and reuse it for irrigation. Mason & Hanger’s design included sustainable criteria for both the building and the site which allowed for its earning of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Gold Certification under the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED® for New Construction green building rating system.
The Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations Earth Day media release shares that “the Embassy in The Hague joins 45 U.S. diplomatic missions worldwide that have achieved LEED® certification, including one prestigious Platinum certification for the Innovation Center in Helsinki.” Mason & Hanger’s engineering services on the Innovation Center also helped make this LEED certification possible, and it was the first overseas U.S. facility to earn that distinction. Mason & Hanger helped transform the one hundred year-old former apartment building into the energy efficient and functional office space of the New U.S. Chancery and Campus Renovation, Helsinki.
New U.S. Embassy compound in The Hague, Netherlands
New U.S. Chancery and Campus Renovation, Helsinki
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesperson
________________________________________
For Immediate Release
MEDIA NOTE
April 22, 2019
The Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations
Celebrates Earth Day With LEED ® Gold Certification
of the New U.S. Embassy in The Hague, Netherlands
In honor of its commitment to resiliency and environmental stewardship, the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO) announced today that the new U.S. Embassy in The Hague, Netherlands has earned Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Gold Certification under the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED® for New Construction green building rating system.
The Embassy in The Hague joins 45 U.S. diplomatic missions worldwide that have achieved LEED® certification, including one prestigious Platinum certification for the Innovation Center in Helsinki, 14 Gold certifications, and 30 Silver or LEED®-certified missions. In addition, OBO has 48 projects in design or under construction anticipated to earn a minimum of LEED® Silver certification.
Along with its LEED® certified facilities, OBO celebrates its contributions to sustainable building operations at U.S. diplomatic missions with its achievements in photovoltaic (PV) solar panel installations. Since 2005, OBO has deployed 37 PV array installations totaling over 7,000 kilowatts (kW) that are projected to save over $22 million over the life of the systems. Currently, OBO has eight deployments in design or under construction totaling over 3,000 kW that are projected to save more than $27 million over the life of the systems.
By reducing diplomatic facilities demand on energy and diversifying energy sources, OBO is enhancing both the efficiency and resiliency of the Department's operations.
OBO provides safe, secure, functional, and resilient facilities that represent the U.S. government to the host nation and support our staff in the achievement of U.S. foreign policy objectives. These facilities represent American values and the best in American architecture, design, engineering, technology, sustainability, art, culture, and construction execution.
