The US Department of State has announced a shortlist of nine firms competing to design the new US Embassy which will be situated beside the MI6 building on the bank of London’s River Thames.

From 37 international submissions to the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations, nine US firms have been chosen in accordance with US state law which states that the lead architect for overseas embassies must be a US firm for ‘security reasons’.

The firms chosen for the shortlist are Gwathmey Siegel & Associates Architects; Kallmann McKinnell & Wood Architects; KieranTimberlake; Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates; Richard Meier & Partners, Architects; Morphosis Architects; PEI Cobb Freed & Partners; Perkins + Will; and Skidmore Owings and Merrill.

Despite the stringency of lead architect requirements, UK partners with local expertise will be submitted to the US Department of State during the second phase of the design competition. The jury panel also consists of UK professionals in the realms of architecture, academics and diplomacy.