OBO Bugle - US Department of State

New Facilities
Completed
New Embassy Compound February 19, 2008
Kigali, Rwanda
President Bush and Secretary
Rice attended the dedication
ceremony, along with OBO
Project Execution Managing
Director Joseph Toussaint. Host
Government was represented by
President Paul Kagame. The
completion of this project enabled
334 mission staff to move into
a safer environment. At times,
in excess of 700 construction
workers were employed at this
site. Over $80 million have been
invested in this project, adding
more than $17 million to the
local economy. The architecture
incorporates Rwandan design
elements, like the brick paving
pattern in the main entry plaza,
which was inspired by the designs
of the Rwandan “peace” basket.
The OBO Project Executive was
Edward Zavora and the Project
Director was Travis Slack. The
design-build contractor was B.L.
Harbert International, which
subcontracted the design to the
A/E firm Page Southerland Page.