U.S. Embassy and Consular Compound

Innovation. Working in an environment that boasts exceptionally harsh conditions, vastly different aesthetic requirements, security mandates, and the need to meet sustainable design criteria is challenging. While the Jeddah consular compound is not LEED certified, it was designed to meet LEED sustainable criteria as set forth by the U.S. Green Building Council. As a result, the landscape design features indigenous, drought-tolerant plantings and an irrigation system that ties into a recycled wastewater line, running on non-potable water. This water-efficient system includes drip irrigation, a smart controller with soil sensors, and a minimal amount of spray irrigation.

LJA provided professional civil engineering services for United States embassies and consulates around the globe, including Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The scope of the design/build project included secure buildings within a walled compound to house the State Department’s diplomatic missions. LJA’s design responsibilities included perimeter wall design, geometric control, grading, onsite utilities, paving, drainage, stormwater management, landscaping, and hardscaping. A package wastewater treatment plant was also designed by LJA for the Jeddah site as well as compounds in Fiji and Afghanistan. Predominate contemporary design elements found within the Kingdom drove the overall design solutions, which evolved thoughtfully from blending harsh existing conditions with U.S. Green Building Council LEED criteria.

LJA also provided landscape architecture services for the 16+ acre site including planting and irrigation design, paver and hardscape design, water features, site furnishings, and a swimming facility for the staff housing complex. Emphasis was placed on providing an environment complementary to contemporary design found within the Kingdom. Design solutions carefully evolved from blending the potentially harsh existing conditions to meet criteria of the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED certification. Landscape solutions were designed for aesthetic appeal within strict security criteria. LJA also provided site engineering for the project, allowing for direct coordination and communication between the LJA team’s landscape architects and civil engineers.

For more information regarding civil engineering on this project, please contact Mehdi Nezami, PE at mnezami@lja.com. For more information regarding landscaping design on this project, please contact Charlie Patout, PLA at cpatout@lja.com.

Division

Landscape Architecture

Services

Site Engineering

Grading, Paving, and Drainage

Stormwater Quality/Management

Wastewater Treatment Plant Design

Site Utilities

Landscape/Hardscape Design