dp15-003 summary of achievements aiacc distinguished...

DP15-003AIACC DISTINGUISHED PRACTICE AWARD

KRISTA BECKER, FAIA, LEED AP

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SUMMARY OF ACHIEVEMENTS

Applying her expertise in the American embassy program, Krista has achieved extraordinary design on nine new embassy commissions, and has had a significant influence on the Department of State’s new Design Excellence Program. Her understanding of the embassy requirements, and of the State Department’s internal culture and procedures, have enabled her to innovate functional, technical and organizational approaches to specific embassy projects, including the design process itself. She has developed the ability to balance challenging security requirements with design excellence for high-profile locations such as Berlin, Taipei, The Hague, Helsinki, Santo Domingo, N’Djamena, Nuevo Laredo, Beirut and Seoul. As evidence of the success, her embassy designs were recently chosen by the Department of State, Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO) to illustrate the potential of their new Design Excellence program in an AIA sponsored presentation to the United States Senate. Her work has helped to restore confidence in our ability to create secure facilities worldwide that also reflect well on American culture and diplomacy.

EMBASSYEXPERT

Krista Becker has advanced the design of United States embassies worldwide, through her mastery of this unique and challenging building type, creating safe, functional and inspiring places for the conduct of diplomacy.

RECOGNIZED LEADER

SHARINGKNOWLEDGE

As a recognized leader in embassy design, Krista has shared her expertise in over 50 international presentations and briefings in eight countries. America’s embassies are among our most visible, significant, and sometimes controversial public or institutional buildings, and embassy design has received tremendous critical attention in recent years. Krista has promoted Design Excellence for Diplomacy to high ranking government officials (ambassadors, city mayors, city planners), international design groups, host country architects and design professionals. While in Santo Domingo on business, during the aftermath of the Haiti Earthquake crisis in early 2010, she gave an embassy design presentation to Undersecretary of State Patrick Kennedy and his staff.

Krista informs and influences the architectural profession on a regular basis through her professional activities. She is an active member of the AIA and has served on three national and regional design award juries. As a member of the select AIA 21st Century Embassy Task Force, her insights provided the basis for several of the recommendations put forth in the Design for Diplomacy Publication. She was selected to give over a dozen lectures at national and regional conventions in six states, and participated in the five firm collaborative lecture at the AIA National Convention in Miami “Integrating Design and Sustainability: Five Firm Perspective – How Recent Award Recipients are Leading the Profession and Meeting the Challenges of the next Decade.” Krista served as the National AIA Practice Management digest editor, is a member of the USC Architectural Guild, and was a curator of the ArKIDecture A+D Museum youth workshop. She is a frequent guest lecturer at University of Southern California and University of California, Los Angeles, on the subjects of professional practice management and construction management.

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Active Engagement to Transform Institutional Procedures and Standards Krista has provided significant alternatives to the established Standard Embassy Design (SED) prescriptive standards and special requirements to advance design excellence for embassies worldwide and create safe, functional and inspiring places for the conduct of diplomacy.

Krista has helped the Bureau raise the bar for design, with better, more contextually sensitive solutions to site and building security, and a creative approach to the internal organization of each embassy’s mosaic of departments and tenants.

“Working for a federal agency, we are often paralyzed by our own regulations and unable to move into new areas and systems. Krista Becker has been able to truly innovate – by finding new means and methods that still meet our standards and requirements but in new, fresher, more creative ways.”

Jerry D. Withers, RA, Project Manager Overseas Buildings Operations, U.S. Department of State

Mentor by Example, Advocacy, and SupportKrista has actively promoted excellence in project management and client-centered design process, at many levels - within the profession through presentations and workshops at the AIA national and regional conferences, and daily within the firm as a noted mentor.

Krista’s approach to growth and development integrates three kinds of support: leadership by example; active training of her team members; and direct participation in the process of license exam preparation. Her active advocacy of licensure has resulted in dozens of senior and intermediate architects completing their license requirements.

“Krista has been my greatest supporter throughout the intense process of architectural licensure. She leads the Career Development group at MRY, answers questions about the licensure process, emphasizes the significance of becoming licensed to young designers, and encourages those who meet licensure challenges to keep their focus. Krista’s mentorship strength is evident through her dedication and commitment to young designers.”

Carissa Shrock, AIA, LEED BD+C, Project Manager Moore Ruble Yudell Architects & Planners

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SUMMARY OF ACHIEVEMENTS

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KRISTA BECKER, FAIA, LEED® AP

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Krista’s emergence as an embassy design leader comes at a pivotal time in the history of America’s facilities overseas.

The bombings of the U.S. Embassies in Africa in 1998 led to stricter security requirements. In 2002, the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO) created the Standard Embassy Design, a generic 10 acre embassy complex that could be used at any location, which streamlined — but also limited — the way American embassies were designed and built.

This program received highly critical responses from the design community as well as Capitol Hill, chronicled in the American Institute of Architects Report: Design for Diplomacy (2009) for which Krista was a valued contributor through her involvement in the 21st Century Embassy Task Force in 2008. Krista actively encouraged the integration and buy-in of the State Department’s disparate working groups — design, engineering, management, real estate, construction — in the formulation of a meaningful approach to Design Excellence. This critical strategic approach has made Design Excellence a catalyst of growth and change within the organization.

“Krista’s contribution to public realm architecture has improved quality of life for people in so many communities.”

RK Stewart, FAIA, Hon FRIAC, Hon JIA, 2007 President, American Institute of Architects

EMBASSY DESIGN LEADER

Moore Ruble Yudell (unless otherwise noted)

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The existing United States Embassy campus in Finland sits on a three acre site just south of downtown Helsinki in the historically significant Kaivopuisto District, a leafy neighborhood that has spectacular views of the Gulf of Finland and the Baltic Sea.

A major constraint of the existing site is the lack of available space for new construction within the required 30 meter security setback. Krista led several studies to determine the optimal positioning and type of access points for the compound that would maximize buildable area.

This project is all about renovation and reuse. Working with the former U.S. Ambassador Oreck, who is a strong advocate for sustainability — and the League of Green Embassies — Krista developed a strategy for this to be the first LEED PLATINUM embassy project for the Department of State, Overseas Buildings Operations. The innovative open work space plan in the existing historic building developed by Krista is a new OBO prototype for creative and flexible work area.

U.S. EMBASSY HELSINKI FINLAND

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6,000 GSM (64,600 GSF) 1.2 HECTARES (3 ACRES)



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U.S. EMBASSY HELSINKI FINLAND

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"Krista Becker has produced several of our most architectural acclaimed embassies. ...I have been extremely pleased to work with Krista as she knows design, the client and knows how to produce wonderful solutions to difficult projects."

—Steven H. Rosenfeld, RA, Project Manager, Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations, U.S. Department of State



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In response to the warm tropical climate, the new Chancery differed from the SED design with an expanded narrow footprint which allowed abundant natural light into the interior spaces while providing deep canopies to shade exterior terraces, plazas and walks. At the heart of the Chancery, a dynamic full-height atrium brings light into the center of the workplace where the main lobby, dining and meeting spaces for visitors and employees are gathered.

This project has one of the largest consular sections in the world with 62 windows. Krista challenged the SED criteria that required all the consular windows be located on the same floor. By separating out the American Citizen Services (ACS) windows on a separate floor with direct access, she created a unique two-story consular pilot program solution, which enhanced the amount of daylight for staff and visitors.

U.S. EMBASSY SANTO DOMINGODOMINICAN REPUBLIC

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U.S. EMBASSY SANTO DOMINGODOMINICAN REPUBLIC



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The competition-winning design for the U.S. Embassy in Berlin is both synergistic to its sensitive historic urban context and clear in its new identity for the Embassy.

Krista challenged the recently established SED standards at every turn and worked closely with OBO’s physical security representative to create unique responses to the urban context constraints. She worked with manufacturers and OBO to design the first curved ballistic resistant glass application for the upper floor “lantern” conference room space, a compelling venue for luncheons and other high-level receptions, with a spectacular view of the Reichstag.

Entry sequences through the main lobby on Pariser Platz meet strictly-prescribed security criteria, yet are made more gracious: a glass-roofed rotunda offers the experience of an open courtyard. The grand cylindrical niche in the north-facing limestone façade allows direct and reflected sunlight to break through to the flag hanging just over the front door.W

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14,000 GSM (150,700 GSF) .6 HECTARES (1.6 ACRES)

U.S. EMBASSY BERLINGERMANY



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“During my 30 years in the Foreign Service, MRY is by far the best architectural team with which I have worked. I found MRY to be sensitive to client needs, local government peculiarities and humble enough to understand the importance the project means to the United States Government and the Federal Republic of Germany.”

Raymond A.Boneski, Minister-Counsel Management Affairs, Embassy of the United States of America

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U.S. EMBASSY BERLINGERMANY



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U.S. EMBASSY THE HAGUE THE NETHERLANDS

The new U.S. Embassy at The Hague embraces its new rural setting by blending in with its surrounding, pleasing the local residents and city authorities, while meeting the programming requirements of the client. This project incorporates several new OBO pilot programs which Krista and her team initiated.

First, was a unique response to diplomatic blocking and stacking security criteria —The main office building is maximized to its allowable zoning envelope and then a series of “pavilions” are carved out of the masses to house different parts of the program. The pavilions are connected together by circulation spaces and these wrap around a central service core.

Second, Krista expanded the site lighting scope to recognize the new LED technologies to reduce OBO and DS required site lighting levels on all new embassy compounds.

A third pilot program for this embassy is the use of geothermal cooling, reducing the need for compound chillers and their required space, as well as reducing the overall future maintenance and energy costs.

“Krista Becker has become synonymous with the most sophisticated embassy projects being designed by The Department of State. Her talent is a combination of innate design sense, ability to simplify and strengthen, attention to myriad requirements, and the important ability to organize people around a complex task. The design of the new embassy project in The Hague, serves as an excellent example of this extraordinary talent.”

Ron Tomasso, AIA Department of State Overseas Buildings Operations

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AMERICAN INSTITUTE TAIPEI,TAIWAN

The American Institute of Taiwan is a technically complex project, consisting of multiple buildings on a topographically challenging site. Under her leadership, Krista organized a 10 day on-site interactive design workshop in Taipei to generate a masterplan and design that met the functional requirements of a program, while effectively negotiating the site topography and related landscape specifications. Site access for a large number of vehicles and pedestrians, as well as the security considerations posed challenges, particularly in a project of this scope.

Krista challenged the use of prescriptive Government Procured Equipment (GPE) windows on every embassy project commission. She worked with her structural and blast consultants to generate a custom performance-based design criteria, expanding the blast window design options for all future embassy projects.

“Krista brings the complex and often contradictory elements of good design and her clients requirements under professional control, and with a clear vision of the values of each, holds them all with a responsive, flexible, and precise grip until each piece finds its proper place, as if of its own volition. To the client it looks like magic.”

- Tom Swartz, RA Project Manager Department of State Overseas Buildings Operations

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US EMBASSYN’DJAMENACHAD

The new United States Embassy in N’Djamena Chad places a high-performance 21st Century workplace in the capital of one of the world’s poorest developing nations. Located east of the city center, near the shores of the Chari River, the new embassy campus will lead the redevelopment of its under developed urban neighborhood, improving the surrounding public realm with safer, cleaner streets and a small public park.

The city’s region is the Sahel, the arid southern ‘shore’ of the Sahara Desert. Its dry climate features extreme heat, briefly relieved by monsoon rains in the summer months. Major design themes include climatic response, facility maintenance in its remote location, security, and careful site planning of the embassy’s many parts and functions. Shade canopies provide nearly continuous cover from sun and rain, linking parking, circulation, and building entrances. In tune with semi-equatorial sun angles shifting through the seasons, an expressive ‘bris-soleil’ layer was designed to also provide a scaffold for exterior maintenance. Cutout screens protect east- and west-facing pattern glass and reflect the cultural context of the region.

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US CONSULATENUEVO LAREDO MEXICO

Nuevo Laredo is considered to be the largest inland port in Latin America (approximately 8500 trucks cross the border each day). Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, has a colorful history of unrest with frequent uprisings, revolutions and drug trafficking. Due to growing security concerns the US government commissioned a new 5.6 acre secure consulate facility with US marine presence. The program objective was to fit a large program on a very small site, relate to the scale of the surrounding residential neighborhood, and arrange site access points to maximize security, functionality, and buildable area.

The project was designed to enhance the Paseo Colon representational zone by maintaining and preserving the existing mature live oak trees on the site, create a sense of security in outdoor spaces, and a sense of privacy for the marine quarters. Sustainability efforts included a series of passive, active, and renewable strategies evaluated through site and climate analysis, façade analysis, daylight modeling, life cycle cost analysis, and energy modeling.

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9.500 GSM (102,300 GSF) 2.3 HECTARES (5.6 ACRES)



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Krista Becker has shared her unique expertise in embassy program specific requirements, as well as her collaborative approach to project team building and management through a series of international and national presentations. Below is a partial list of those presentations, lectures, workshops and project related briefings. Classified briefings have been omitted.N’DJAMENA, CHAD2012 July - Speaker, N’Djamena, Chad “U.S. Embassy N’Djamena Design Presentation to U.S. Ambassador to Chad”

HELSINKI, FINLAND2011 July - Speaker, Helsinki, Finland, “U.S. Embassy Helsinki Presentation to U.S. Ambassador to Finland”

2011 February - Speaker, Helsinki, Finland “U.S. Embassy Helsinki Design Presentation to Ministry of Environment”

2010 October - Speaker, Helsinki, Finland “Design Briefing and Workshop with Post”

THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS2011 January - Speaker, Wassenaar, The Netherlands “U.S. Embassy The Hague Presentation to Mayor of Wassenaar”

2010 October - Speaker, Wassenaar, The Netherlands “U.S. Embassy The Hague Beautification Committee Presentation”

2010 July - Speaker, Wassenaar, The Netherlands “U.S. Embassy The Hague Beautification Committee Presentation”

2010 May - Speaker, The Hague, The Netherlands “U.S. Embassy Presentation to U.S. Ambassador to The Netherlands”

SANTO DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC2010 April - Speaker, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic “Presentation to Undersecretary of State Patrick Kennedy”

2009 October - Speaker,Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic “Presentation to the Deputy Chief of Mission”

BEIRUT, LEBANON2009 December - Speaker, Beirut, Lebanon “U.S. Embassy Beirut Masterplan Design Presentation to Deputy Chief of Mission”

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA

2009 May - Speaker, Seoul, Korea “U.S. Embassy Seoul: USFK Masterplan Design Presentation to Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the U.S. Ambassador to Korea”

INTERNATIONAL PRESENTATIONS



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TAIPEI, TAIWAN2008 October - Speaker, Taipei, Taiwan “AIT: Deputy Secretary General— TECRO Presentation”

2007 July - Speaker, Taipei, Taiwan “American Institute in Taiwan: Ministry of Interiors Design Presentation”

2005 January - Speaker, Taipei, Taiwan “AIT: Deputy Secretary General—TECRO Presentation”

2004 October - Speaker, Taipei, Taiwan “American Institute in Taiwan: Ministry of Interiors Design Presentation”

BERLIN, GERMANY

2007 September - Speaker, Berlin, Germany “U.S. Embassy Berlin Design Briefing to U.S. Ambassador to Germany”

2006 November - Speaker, Berlin, Germany “U.S. Embassy Berlin Design Briefing to U.S. Ambassador to Germany”

2005 August - Speaker,Berlin, Germany “U.S. Embassy Berlin: Praiser Platz Garden Bollard Presentation”

2004 July - Speaker, Berlin, Germany “U.S. Embassy Berlin: U.S. Embassy NEC Project Design Presentation”

2004 April - Speaker, Berlin, Germany “U.S. Embassy Berlin: Senate Department for Urban Development Presentation”

2004 March - Speaker, Berlin, Germany “U.S. Embassy Berlin: Senate Department—Historical Conservation Group”

2004 February - Speaker, Berlin, Germany “U.S. Embassy Berlin: Historical Conservation Group Presentation”

2003 November - Speaker, Berlin, Germany “U.S. Embassy Berlin: Presentation of revised B-plan to Berlin Senate”

2003 October - Speaker, Berlin, Germany “FAPE presentation—Sol LeWitt to Ambassador and Post”

2003 May - Speaker, Berlin, Germany “U.S. Embassy Berlin: Senate Department Presentation”

2003 April - Speaker, Berlin, Germany “U.S. Embassy Berlin: Senate Department—Building Permissions Group Presentation”

2003 March - Speaker, Berlin, Germany “U.S. Embassy Berlin: Senate Department — Transportation Presentation”

2003 January - Speaker, Berlin, Germany “U.S. Embassy Berlin: Senate Department — Road relocation Presentation”

2002 June - Speaker, Berlin, Germany “U.S. Embassy Berlin: U.S. Ambassador to Germany Briefing and Post Presentation”

INTERNATIONAL PRESENTATIONS



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2011 - Panelist, American Institute of Architects presents “Secure and Sustainable U.S. Embassies” U.S. Senate sub-committee briefing – Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C.

2011 - Speaker, American Institute of Architects National Convention, New Orleans, Louisiana “Creating Meaningful Interactions in Presentations: Managing Diverse Opinions and Objectives”

2010 - Speaker, American Institute of Architects National Convention, Miami, Florida “Integrating Design and Sustainability: Five Firm Perspective—How Recent Award Recipients are Leading the Profession and Meeting the Challenges of the Next Decade”

2010 - Speaker, American Institute of Architects National Convention, Miami, Florida “Creating Meaningful Interactions in Presentations: Managing Diverse Opinions and Objectives”

2009 - Speaker, American Institute of Architects National Convention, San Francisco, California “Creating Meaningful Interactions in Presentations”

“I found Krista Becker’s talk to be the best of the entire SF convention. Her clarity of thought and passion for the subject was very inspiring and memorable. Each portion of her talk concluded with insightful observations and tools for practice. I highly recommend her methodology to any professional who wants to make their presentation style more effective and impactful.”

—Nate Cherry, FAIA

2009 - Speaker, American Institute of Architects National Convention, San Francisco, California “Design Diplomacy: New U.S. Embassies in Berlin and Beijing”

2006 - Speaker, Regional CSI Conference, Charlottesville, Virginia, “Getting to Green – UVA South Lawn Case Study”

2006 - Speaker, American Institute of Architects National Convention, Los Angeles, California “Moore Ruble Yudell – National Firm Award Presentation”

2006 - Speaker, American Institute of Architects National Convention, Los Angeles, California “Santa Monica Public Library Sustainable Measure: Case Study”

2006 - Speaker, AIA Louisiana Chapter, Shreveport, Louisiana “Facilitating Chaos”

2006 - Speaker, American Institute of Architects California Council Desert Practice Conference, Indian Wells, California“Size Doesn’t Matter”

2004 - Participant, The White House, Washington, DC “U.S. Embassy Berlin: FAPE Presentation and Event”

NATIONAL PRESENTATIONS



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2015 Guest Lecturer, University of Southern California, Practice Management (scheduled for February 9, 2015)

2015 Speaker, American Institute of Architects Los Angles Chapter Conference: Powerful | Women Leading Design (Scheduled for February 27, 2015)

2014 Guest Lecturer, University of Southern California, Practice Management

2013 Guest Lecturer, University of Southern California, Practice Management

2011 Curator, A + D Museum “ArKIDecture: Step to Design” youth workshop

2009 Member, American Institute of Architects Women’s Leadership Summit: Dynamics of the Profession

2008 Member, American Institute of Architects 21st Century Embassy Task Force

2007 Juror, American Institute of Architects National Urban Design Awards

2007 Juror, American Institute of Architects Western Mountain Region Design Awards

2006 Guest Lecturer, University of California Los Angeles, Practice Management

2006 Editor, American Institute of Architects National Practice Management Digest

2005 Juror, Architectural Record Excellence in Design Awards

2005 Guest Lecturer, University of California Los Angeles, Practice Management

2004 LEED AP, US Green Building Council

2003-2004 Guest Lecturer, University of California, Los Angeles Extension, Construction Management DB Annual Forum

2002 Instructor, University of California, Los Angeles Extension, Construction Management

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES



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BOOKS

2011 Crosbie, Michael J., Ruble, John, FAIA and Yudell, Buzz , FAIA Moore Ruble Yudell: The Future of Place Liaoning Science & Technology Publishing (features 12 projects and bio)

2007 Anderton, Frances; Campbell, Robert, FAIA and Wang, Shouzhi Moore Ruble Yudell Report | 2007 Beijing: AADCU (features five projects and bio)

2004 Ruble, John, FAIA and Yudell, Buzz FAIA Moore Ruble Yudell: Making Place: Sydney — Images Publishing Group (features two projects and bio)

2011 Loeffler, Jane C. The Architecture of Diplomacy: Building America’s Embassies—revised second addition New York: Princeton Architectural Press (references projects)

“Working closely with the U.S. State Department as well as with local officials from The Hague to Santo Domingo, Krista Becker has mastered the art of solving the difficult challenges associated with embassy design. In Berlin, for example, she effectively merged outstanding urban design with the overarching security mandate.”

—Jane C. Loeffler, MCP, PhD Visiting Associate Professor, Honors College, University of Maryland

2009 Nadel, Barbara A., FAIA Design for Diplomacy: New Embassies for 21st Century AIA published report (Member of 21st Century Task Force)

2008 Feireiss, Kristin and Ruble, John The Berlin Embassy: Die Amerikanishe Botschaft Berlin: Aedes Publishing (features project and bio)

2004 Lui, Elizabeth Gill Building Diplomacy: The Architecture of American Embassies Cornell University Press (references design excellence project)

ARTICLES 2014 Becker, Krista “ Inside a Model Remodel” Fine Homebuilding 2014 Best Remodel Award Recipient (pages 8,10, 12, 36-41)

“When I see projects such as this year’s best remodel winner designed by Krista Becker — life within seems enriched solely by the quality of the design…This is the inspiring, practical architecture that we can all learn from the most. This is relevant and relatable design.”

—Rob Yagid, design editor FINE HOMEBUILDING

PUBLICATIONS



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2011 Ichniowski, Tom “State Department Ramping Up Design Excellence Program for U.S. Embassies” Architectural Record (references project as example of design excellence)

2010 Council of American Ambassadors “Embassy Architecture: Time to Stop, Review and Rethink” The Ambassador’s Review (references project)

2010 Nadel, Barbara, FAIA “Flexibility is Key When Evaluating Security Solutions in Government Buildings” Security Magazine (references project)

2009 Giovanni, Joseph “A Tale of Two Embassies” Architectural Record (pages 64-70) (features project)

2009 Kennicott, Philip “Breaking the Diplomatic Ties that Bind Design” The Washington Post—July 19, 2009 (references project)

2008 Interview “Building a Bridge Firm” A + U (pages 24-35) (features principals)

2008 Lyndon, Donlyn “The New Embassy in Berlin” Places (pages 74-79) (features project)

2008 Loeffler, Jane “The Rows on Embassy Rows” Newsweek (pages 38-41) (features project)

2008 Campbell, Robert, FAIA “Critique: Party on! How Public Space Works When a Million People Show Up” Architectural Record (pages 57-58) (references project)

2008 Wise, Michael “The Ugly American”Architect (pages 78-81) (references project)

2008 Campbell, Robert, FAIA “Sending the Wrong Message to the Rest of the World” Architectural Record (pages 61-62) (features project)

2007 Gray, Ann “The Evolution Revolution” Form (pages 46-51) (features project)

2006 Lubell, Sam “AIA Gold Medal, Firm Award go to Antoine Predock, Moore Ruble Yudell” Architectural Record (page 29) (features National Firm Award)

“Their work is widely admired for its spirited celebration of habitation at many scales and its respect for people, context, and place. The firm continues to evolve in response to new challenges and opportunities while remaining true to the fundamental principles of humanism.”

—AIA Design Firm Award Committee Chair Michael Franklin Ross, FAIA

2005 Battaglini, Cara “Moore Ruble Yudell Receives 2006 Architecture Firm Award” AIA Architect (National Firm Award)

2005 Duncan, Jennifer A. “The Art of Diplomacy” State Magazine (pages 30-31) (references project)

2004 Kroloff, Reed “A New Embassy in Berlin” Architecture (pages131-137) (features project)

PUBLICATIONS



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As an invited member of the Task Force, Krista participated in the November 2008 interactive symposium, and subsequently provided several of the 59 recommendations put forth in The Task Force report, Design for Diplomacy: New Embassies for the 21st Century (AIA, 2009).

The Design for Diplomacy report received national media attention including Phillip Kennecott’s article “U.S. Embassy Architecture: Breaking the Diplomatic Ties That Bind Design,” The Washington Post (July 19, 2009.)

“We’re all well aware of the changed world we live in and the need to have security. But I believe we can build embassies that are not only safe and secure, but embassies that also reflect America’s values of openness, creativity and innovation... The AIA report is an important first step towards reestablishing principles of design excellence in our embassies and consulates abroad.”

—Sen. John Kerry, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee

Based on the task force findings, Krista worked closely with OBO and initiated a series of design excellence pilot programs. As a result, OBO implemented recommendations for: performance based blast windows on the American Institute in Taiwan project; innovative LED site lighting technologies on the new embassy compound in The Hague; and the first design excellence peer review of design/build contractor documents for the new embassy compound in Santo Domingo. All these pilot programs set a precedent for several other embassy projects worldwide.

OBO addressed the existing culture issue and developed a working group/design excellence task force — critical to the success of any design excellence program — with a multidisciplinary approach to project development and execution. In April 2011, OBO announced the development of a new Design Excellence program and acknowledged the Design for Diplomacy report, which formed the basis of OBO’s Design Excellence initiative.

In 2014, Krista facilatated an internal OBO best practices round table and produced the 45-page OBO Round Table Report 2014 (Moore Ruble Yudell) full of observations and recommendations to provide feedback on how OBO could improve the working relationship with the design A/E teams, employ techniques to increase effectiveness, and produce excellence in diplomatic facilities. Two overarching themes emerged throughout the discussion: manage and clarify change internally, and utilize more standardization within project requirements.

An important element of reorganizing enterprise functions is overcoming the prevailing status quo, culture and embedded processes. In many ways creating a receptive environment for change is more important than improving the processes and tools. Changing behaviors, attitudes and biases against outside influence needs to be a carefully designed process that is led, managed and inspired from the top.

EMBASSY BEST PRACTICESN e w e m b a s s i e s f o r t h e 2 1 s t C e N t u r y

Design for Diplomacy

A Report of the AIA 21st-Century Embassy Task Force

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dp15-003 summary of achievements aiacc distinguished...

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