Canadian Embassy

Warsaw, Poland
Client:
Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs & International Trade
Size:
3,350 m2 | 36,000 ft2
Completion:
2001
Scope of Service:
Full Architectural Services
With:
Ozimek & Pawlik Architects (Associate Architect)

Awards:

Polish Association of Architects, Publically Funded Buildings Category, 2002

Best Public Building, City of Warsaw Mayor's Award for Architecture, 2002

Best Buliding of the Year, Polish Business News, 2001

The recipient of three prestigious design awards and recognized upon its completion as one of Warsaw’s best new buildings, the design of the Canadian Embassy balances openness and transparency while maintaining a high level of security. The exterior is clad in French limestone with a glazed curtain wall of anodized silver mullions and pre-finished aluminum panels. The desire to promote greater commercial and cultural exchange between Canada and Poland inspired the transparency that dominates the two public façades, both facing busy streets.

A strong sense of openness permeates the publicly accessible areas on the ground floor, with progressively more stringent security measures incorporated towards the interior of the building. Interior features include a sky-lit lobby at the main consular entrance and a double-height, multi-purpose event space at ground level, with walkout access to a terrace and shaded garden. Advanced physical and electronic security features are fully integrated into all aspects of the building design.