texts
The New U.S. Embassy in Berlin
Remarks by Charles E. Williams
Director, Overseas Buildings Operations, Department of State
Groundbreaking Ceremony, Berlin – October 6, 2004
As prepared for delivery.
Minister Schily, State Secretary Scharioth, Mayor Wowereit, Ambassador Coats, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, I am honored to be here on this very historic day for both of our nations and I bring you special greetings and best wishes from our Secretary of State, Colin L. Powell. It is truly great to be in Germany again.
I should tell you that I was honored during my military days here in Germany to be awarded the large German cross "Das Grosse Verdienstkreuz." This medal is a testament of German/American relations at their very best.
Today America returns to Pariser Platz after almost 70 years, like a phoenix rising from the ashes, the new embassy of the United States of America will rise on this site, a dramatic symbol of the close and lasting relationship between the United States and the Federal Republic of Germany.
Getting us to this point today has been a collaborative effort between the Embassy, City of Berlin, in particular the Haupstadt Referat, German Federal government officials and our neighbors, Commerzbank, DZ Bank, The Foundation Memorial for the European Jewish Victims of Murder, The Academy of Arts Berlin-Brandenburg, The Adlon Hotel, Fundus Fonds, and the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations. I want to thank everyone who has assisted in this very detailed, delicate process to permit the United States to move forward with a new home here on Pariser Platz.
This new embassy, on this historic location will allow the United States to effectively and more efficiently carry out its mission while nurturing our strong bi-lateral relationship with Germany.
This wonderful new embassy building was designed by a team led by Moore Ruble Yudell Architects and Planners with Gruen Associates, and the Berlin architectural firm of Lunetto and Fischer under the direction of the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations, the new embassy design, using the concept of the 1996 competition-winning scheme, is designed to be safe, secure and functional to meet all Post’s requirements.
The new design also responds to a dramatically transformed context that now includes such monuments of civic pride and modern design as the Reichstag with its celebrated new dome, the Federal Government complex, and the nearby commercial redevelopment of Potsdamer Platz.
An overlay of gardens has been incorporated into the design. From the geometry of the parterre front garden along Ebertstrasse, which is extended to the Rooftop Parterre Garden, the green roofs planted with carpets of sedum, and the vine planted courtyard walls, landscape materials inspired by places of the American continent give the Embassy a green narrative and link the site to the grand context of the nearby Tiergarten.
In collaboration with the Foundation of Art and Preservation in Embassies art has been woven throughout the new Chancery. The collection will include works by Christo, Calder, Robert Rauschenberg, Annette Lemieux and Andy Warhol. A vibrant piece by Sol LeWitt will grace the Consular entry, visible to pedestrians along Behrenstrasse and Ebertstrasse.
Under the vision of Secretary Colin Powell and our new management focus , the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations has undertaken the largest program in its history to provide new and much improved facilities to our embassies and consulates around the world and Berlin is a very important component of that program.
The Chancery, sited here in Berlin on Pariser Platz will be an appropriately sized building surrounded by a state of the art perimeter security system. Once completed in November 2007, the Embassy will be the new workplace for US personnel and local residents who support our mission here in Berlin.
This Embassy represents a significant financial investment that will reap benefits for the local economy in the form of local procurements of construction materials, use of local sub-contractors, machinery, tools and equipment, salaries for workers. In fact, at the peak of construction we expect to have over 200 local workers employed at the site.
Our general contractor is Hensel-Phelps represented here today by Charlie Simmons and they have assured me that we will all be back here for the ribbon cutting in November 2007. My project director, Eduardo Gaarder has reminded me that 2007 is only a short time away and we must get busy breaking ground so that our team can begin construction in earnest.
In a few moments, Minister Schily, State Secretary Scharioth, Mayor Wowereit, and Ambassador Coats and will join me at the shovels for the groundbreaking. This is a great day for Germany and the United States.
Thank you.
