The Dept. of State Us Bureau of Overseas Building Operations has awarded a $138-million contract to B.L. Harbert, International, based in Birmingham, Alabama, to build a new embassy compound in Dakar. The project consists of a 171,00-sq-ft. chancery building, three access control facilities, marine security guard quarters, a parking garage, a recreation facility, a vehicle maintenance building, shop and a mail screening facility on a 9.9-acre site. The compound will serve 455 employees. The facility was designed by architectural firm Page Southerland Page, LLP, Arlington, Virginia. Its features include solar collectors for electricity generation and hot water, water-conserving plumbing fixtures; heat-recovery chillers and daylight harvesting systems to reduce electrical demands. Construction is expected to begin in fall 2010 and be completed by early 2013.