New embassy for Bangkok
The new premises needed to be operational and secure and so the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office engaged FCDO Services as the Principal Contractor to manage this project. As well as taking on overall responsibility for the project, we supplied and fitted the technical systems across all three floors, and delivered a complete fit-out across one of the floors.
The embassy needed designing to suit both the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and other Partners Across Government (PAGs), as well as meeting building compliance with the landlord and Thai authorities. We consulted all invested parties throughout the process. Our Professional Services team designed the space in a full 3D model prior to construction, to make sure we overcame all design challenges. This highly complex project took twelve months.
Our Logistics team shipped over 60 tonnes of kit to post via our Diplomatic Bag Service, and over two thirds was escorted.
Essential to making the new embassy operational was getting the security right, our team from the UK National Authority on Counter-Eavesdropping (UK NACE) provided overall security input and supervision. With a rotating team of technical security specialists onsite at all times, they ensured the integrity of the mission.
To ensure the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office could be confident in the security of their new embassy, our Logistics team shipped over 60 tonnes of kit to post via our Diplomatic Bag Service, and over two thirds was escorted. We flew out our security-cleared technical team to install the security system; one of their single largest technical fit-outs, covering over 3,000m2 of office space.
Our Professional Services team designed the space in a full 3D model prior to construction, to make sure we overcame all design challenges.
Along with meeting security specifications, we balanced the project requirements with the restrictions of the landlord’s design philosophy and the limitations of a multi-occupancy building. In this way, we have both met all required standards and maintained a good relationship with the landlord.
On request, a team from FCDO Services travelled out to Bangkok to support Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office with the final stages of this project in May 2020.
“The personal skills, experience and professionalism of the FCDO Services team along with the organisational capability and infrastructure developed to deliver difficult projects around the world has enabled the team to overcome each obstacle presented and complete the secure zone fit out with the minimum of fuss and to a very high standard.” Programme Director, Bangkok, Estates and Security Department, FCDO