BL Harbert International (BLHI) was selected to construct the multi-building complex situated on eight acres in the Morgenstond development of Paramaribo. The new compound provides diplomatic staff with a safe, secure and sustainable workplace, and consists of a Chancery building, utility building, warehouse, maintenance facility and embassy community facilities.

Various site elements including perimeter walls and fencing, hardscaping, landscaping, wetland planting, storm retention systems and water features, pedestrian and parking canopies, and compound roads were installed and improved by BLHI. Improvements on approximately three acres of public right-of-way and surrounding roads were also performed.

 

Host Country Workforce Training

Realizing early into the project that the necessary skilled labor was unavailable locally, BLHI employed 130 Third Country National (TCN) supervisors and foremen with previous U.S. diplomatic facility construction experience to train and lead the local workforce. These TCNs came from 18 different nations. BLHI also employed U.S. expatriate supervisors and U.S. craftsmen who trained the local workforce on construction and safety standards. As a result, approximately 600 Surinamese workers gained significant construction experience.

 

Rainwater Harvesting System

The compound incorporates numerous features to conserve resources and reduce operating costs, including a rainwater harvesting system. The system was designed to reduce municipal water by nearly 100%. Captured rainwater is harvested, filtered, treated and then utilized for both potable and non-potable water demands. Now, an estimated 932 cubic meters of rainwater will be captured and reused annually.