U.S. Embassy Opens in Beijing as Oympic Games Begin
The U.S. Embassy in Beijing opened on Aug. 8. The dedication was timed to coincide with the commencement of the 2008 Olympic Games. The 500,000-sq-ft complex, which accommodates 600 employees in five buildings, is the second-largest embassy constructed in U.S. history.
Construction of the five-building complex, designed by the San Francisco office of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLC, began on Feb. 10, 2004, under the direction of the Zachry Caddell Joint Venture, San Antonio.