SOM’s design for the U.S. Embassy in Windhoek, Namibia, has been honored with a 2025 AIA International Design Award, recognizing excellence in architecture that advances global initiatives and fosters cultural exchange. Presented annually by AIA International, the broadest geographical component of the American Institute of Architects, the awards celebrate innovative design and best practices by AIA members across the world. This year’s winners were recognized at the AIA International Conference in Sri Lanka in October.

Located in Namibia’s capital city, the U.S. Embassy Windhoek embodies architecture as a form of diplomacy, designed to foster collaboration between the United States and Namibia on initiatives spanning education, health, trade, and wildlife conservation. The campus comprises a series of low, stone-clad buildings that harmonize with Windhoek’s surrounding landscape, reflecting the country’s distinctive geology and colors.

The embassy is tuned into its context in the heart of the Khomas Highland Plateau with unobstructed views of the Eros and Auas mountain ranges. The chancery, oriented along the site’s natural water flow, serves as the centerpiece of the campus, with locally sourced yellow limestones and red sandstone evoking the hues of Namibia’s Sossusvlei dunes. Its three-story atrium hosts diplomatic events, exhibitions and informal gatherings, featuring artworks by American and Namibian artists. Ensuring the embassy could flourish in the region’s arid climate, the embassy is designed to maximize water efficiency, celebrate native flora, and harness renewable energy through advanced building systems.