U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar joined U.S. Consul General in Guadalajara Amy Scanlon, along with representatives from the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO) and Bureau of Consular Affairs, U.S. Mission personnel, and Mexican officials, at the formal dedication of the new U.S. consulate general in Guadalajara. The new consulate will formally begin offering services to the public later this summer. This ribbon cutting is the first in a series of upcoming U.S. embassy and consulate project completions in Mexico.
The new facility integrates design elements that blend seamlessly with the local environment, emphasizing functionality and sustainability while drawing inspiration from local architectural customs. To accommodate the anticipated increase in consular demand, the consulate features an increased number of consular windows to better serve visitors and expedite services. Vibrant art installations enliven the indoor waiting area and the outdoor overflow space, where visitors can find shelter under natural palapa shading, paying homage to local traditions. The result is a consulate that not only meets the operational needs of the diplomatic mission but also serves as a model of innovation and responsible development in international diplomacy.
The new consulate prioritizes environmental stewardship through the use of advanced energy and water-efficiency measures, including solar panels, a wastewater treatment system, innovative stormwater management, and drip irrigation for all landscaping needs. The landscape uses locally sourced, drought-tolerant plants minimizing the need for watering.
The Miller Hull Partnership of Seattle, Washington, was the design architect, and B.L. Harbert International of Birmingham, Alabama, constructed the consulate, with PAGE Architects of Washington, D.C., serving as the architect of record. Throughout the project, an estimated $66 million was invested in the local economy, and more than 1,880 Mexican workers were employed during its construction.
The United States and Mexico have a consequential bilateral relationship, directly impacting the everyday lives of millions of U.S. and Mexican citizens, whether through trade, joint security, or tourism. Within similar timeframes, OBO has undertaken five major builds across Mexico: four new consulate facilities located in Hermosillo, Guadalajara, Merida, and Nogales, and a new embassy in Mexico City. The new consulate compound in Guadalajara is an important physical representation of the long-term commitment to the U.S.-Mexico relationship and a permanent presence in the region.
Learn more about the project here.
OBO provides the most effective facilities for United States diplomacy abroad. Since the start of the Department's Capital Security Construction Program in 1999, OBO has completed 179 new diplomatic facilities and has more than 50 active projects in design or construction worldwide.
