Engineering Services for the U.S. Department of State’s Overseas Facilities

Designates projects that provide innovative and sustainable solutions for our clients

The U.S. Department of State’s (DOS) Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO) is responsible for providing safe, secure, and functional facilities from which DOS staff can accomplish U.S. foreign policy objectives. The buildings also showcase the best in American architecture, engineering, and construction to the host nation.

In 2013 OBO selected Tetra Tech to provide the required architectural and engineering oversight on its new and existing overseas construction projects.

Each OBO project injects a massive amount of funding into the local economy, endeavoring to use local construction firms and labor as often as possible. Although employing indigenous labor benefits both the United States and the host country, the construction or renovation of a U.S. embassy must adhere to strict U.S. engineering standards. Therefore, OBO requires senior-level U.S. architects and engineers to be on-site overseeing the construction of its facilities to ensure that materials, processes, and schedules are in compliance and the resulting structure is safe, secure, and aesthetically pleasing.

Upon instruction from OBO, Tetra Tech recruits, deploys, and provides support to architects, civil engineers, electrical engineers, mechanical engineers, project controls engineers, construction managers, inspectors, safety professionals, and tradesmen. All personnel hired and deployed hold a Top Secret clearance, have at least 10 years of experience in their field of expertise, and agree to remain in-country and on-project anywhere from six months to five years depending on the project size.

OBO has asked Tetra Tech to provide oversight to projects located across several continents, including:

  • New U.S. Embassy Compound in Cotonou, Benin. This multi-building, $178-million complex includes a chancery/office building, support annex, residence for the U.S. Marine detachment, warehouse, utility building, recreational facility, and multiple pavilions
  • New Office Annex in Abuja, Nigeria. This 27,000-square-foot, $119-million new office annex will house personnel from additional U.S. agencies, including the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Centers for Disease Control, and the Department of Defense
  • New U.S. Embassy Compound in Islamabad, Pakistan. This compound, which will be one of the largest U.S. embassies in the world, is championing the environmental friendliness and energy efficiency of “green engineering”
  • New Office Annex in Beijing, China. This project will provide modifications and additional space to the existing compound’s Consular Affairs section