The new U.S. Consulate General is situated on a 7.6-acre site in Matamoros. The multi-building campus includes a chancery, Marine Security Guard residence, support buildings, and facilities for the Consulate General community. The campus will provide a secure, modern, and environmentally sustainable platform for U.S. diplomacy in Matamoros.

The building meets all Department standards for security and provides modern office space for the Consulate staff. The building design embraces traditional regional architecture. The signature element of the project is the latilla shade canopy. This open lattice canopy provides a significant amenity for consular visitors and enhances the building’s energy performance. The latilla provides an open, receptive and welcoming edge to the campus. It defines functional outdoor rooms, provides shade for consular and diplomatic functions and gives a sense of openness and permeability to the new facility.

The landscape design features extensive native plantings and storm water management features inspired by the local Resaca waterways.

The project is pursuing registration with the U.S. Green Building Council for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) certification and is projected to receive LEED® Silver certification. The project is designed to harvest and store rainwater to serve nearly all irrigation demands, reducing the demand on local potable water supply systems. Low flow plumbing fixtures will be used, allowing the buildings to consume a projected 30-40% less water than a typical building built to U.S. building codes. The building is designed with energy efficient lighting and mechanical systems with energy savings projections of 20-30% below a typical building built to U.S. building codes. (Federal IDIQ)