United States Embassy
Nassau, Bahamas
US Department of State’s Bureau of Overseas Building Operations
Spacesmith is the interior designer on the new U.S. embassy in Nassau, The Bahamas. Teaming up with Ennead Architects, the overall scheme is inspired by the limestone ledges that make up the 5-acre site. The plan for the 80,000 sf chancery is compact and simple: typical office modules will surround a central building core on three sides, while the fourth, north-facing side is dedicated to public functions, such as the main lobby, a café with outdoor porch, shared support, and a collaboration hub.
Most of the office program is located within large mixed suites that allow for maximum flexibility and future reconfiguration as staff grows or shrinks. Growth workstations are evenly distributed throughout the suites to account for approximately 10% of the total seats. The open office is designed using an efficient module that considers the relationship between the systems furniture, the structural grid, ceiling systems, and the façade. This reduces instances of unique conditions allowing for a simple densification strategy to be applied throughout if needed.
Using freestanding desks and storage components, a six person desk cluster can easily convert into an eight person desk cluster.
The hub, a collaboration area accommodating groups of different sizes, is informal with a residential appeal for quick meetings, touch downs, individual mobile work, and/or coffee breaks. It is surrounded by conference rooms serving all areas of the office, increasing opportunities for encounters before or after meetings, fostering a sense of community.
Local Bahamian influences including sisal weaving, the ocean, and limestone provide inspiration for the interior palette. Adding to the exterior palette of limestone, concrete, and warm metal, the interiors also include light-colored recycled wood, limestone floors, and accents in Bahama blue. Weaving may appear as woven metal fabrics or patterns. Together, the site elements, walls, and buildings are conceived and designed to provide an appropriate, respectful presence for the United States in the Bahamas without overwhelming the adjacent context.
