Construction has begun on the 10-acre Tiro a Segno campus for the US Consulate General in Milan that will act as a platform for US diplomacy across northern Italy.
The project is designed by New York’s SHoP Architects with Alabama’s Caddell Construction Company acting as contractor.
The $65m project is to be overseen by US agency Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), and will create 500 construction jobs for local workers.
The site will integrate a consulate building, a restoration of the historic Liberty Building and an 80,000 sq ft parade ground complete with reconstructed pavilion.
The design references traditional Italian architecture through its use of milled stone and multicoloured marble.
An art collection curated by OBO’s Office of Art in Embassies will include Italian and American painting, photography, beadwork and sculpture.
The project hopes to achieve LEED Gold certification by incorporating features such as solar power and ground-source heat pumps.
