Birmingham construction company to build U.S. embassy in Vietnam

Birmingham construction company to build U.S. embassy in Vietnam

A Birmingham construction company will be building a U.S. embassy in Vietnam, according to an announcement Saturday by the U.S. Department of State.

B.L. Harbert International will be the construction contractor for the embassy in what’s expected to be about $350 million invested in the local economy through the course of the project.

This is not the first foreign embassy project for B.L. Harbert. The company built the U.S. embassy in Guatemala that was dedicated last month. Other government-related overseas projects, according to the company website, include building construction in Mexico, Thailand, Iraq, Lebanon, Laos, United Kingdom, Ukraine, Pakistan, United Arab Emirates, Morocco and India.

According to the state department announcement, the design of the embassy in the Vietnam capital of Hanoi “embraces the modern urban landscape and natural beauty of Hanoi and incorporates the latest in sustainable design features.  Drawing inspiration from the rice paddies that surround the region, a terraced landscape solution has been applied to mitigate rainwater, and all major structures are elevated one meter above the projected flood plain.  Sustainable materials with high recycled content, low embodied carbon, and low levels of volatile organic compounds will be used to ensure a healthy and energy-efficient interior.”

A ceremonial groundbreaking for the embassy in Vietnam was held Saturday.