(Eds: Fixed title)

WASHINGTON, D.C. (BNO NEWS) – The Bujumbura New Embassy Compound (NEC) in Burundi will be the 100th diplomatic facility to be built by the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO) since 2001, the U.S. Department of State said Wednesday.

The NEC in Burundi is expected to have around 320 embassy employees in its seven buildings that include a chancery, Marine Security Guard Quarters, a support annex with maintenance shops, a utility building, and three compound access control structures.

The U.S. Government denotes its commitment with environmental issues with its green design and sustainability, incorporating rain water harvesting and photovoltaic panels to achieve a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) silver rating.

The approximate cost of the entire project is $137 million, which will be under the supervision of Caddell Construction of Montgomery, Alabama. The architectural firm of Einhorn Yaffee Prescott of Albany, New York designed the compound, which is scheduled to be completed in 1012.

In the last nine years, OBO has completed 70 new diplomatic facilities, moving more than 20,000 individuals into safe, secure and functional facilities. The Bureau has built 26 new facilities in Africa and the NEC in Burundi is the ninth projects in design or under construction on the continent.