By Shruti Menon Seeboo
The highest structural point of the new United States Embassy in Bagatelle, Moka, was formally marked today, Thursday, 11 December 2025, in a solemn and celebratory Topping-Out Ceremony. This construction milestone, signifying the completion of the physical framework, represents a powerful, tangible commitment to the enduring diplomatic relationship between the United States and Mauritius. The event was dignified by the presence of the Chief Guest, His Excellency, Vice President of the Republic of Mauritius Jean Yvan Robert Hungley, alongside key members of the government and leaders of the U.S. Department of State, highlighting the mutual importance of the $300 million investment.
The ceremony’s four key addresses detailed how this edifice, rising on Mauritian soil, is designed to serve not only as a secure diplomatic base but as a future platform for cooperation on trade, security, and sustainability for the next century.
The Engineering Feat and Global Labour Force
The magnitude of the new U.S. Embassy complex is best understood not just in its final architectural vision, but in the sheer scale of the engineering effort required to bring it into being. Brandon Blankinship, Project Manager for B.L. Harbert International (BLHI), the company responsible for delivering the project, detailed the extraordinary logistical and human endeavour required to reach this structural apex.
Blankenship underscored the collective, international spirit that drove the construction from the ground up, highlighting the project as an exercise in practical diplomacy, bringing professionals from across continents to a shared objective. He confirmed the precise figures that defined the scale: “Peak construction will have more than 410 workers on site daily, with a total of a workforce of 520 people representing 27 different nations.”
The sheer volume of materials handled speaks volumes about the project’s size. Blankinship noted that this diverse, international team has already “poured 20,000 cubic metres of concrete, installed 2,400 metric tonnes of steel in the structure so far.” Furthermore, the priority placed on worker welfare and safety was highlighted by the impressive metrics logged: “We’ve also logged 2-million-man hours to date, while maintaining an excellent safety rating.” He added a human touch to the logistics: “As a fact, we’ve served 650,000 meals to the team to keep them operating since January of 2024.”
He concluded his remarks on the construction phase by thanking the essential local partners who have facilitated the work: “We’re deeply grateful for the collaboration with the government of Mauritius, the various ministries and agencies… to the utility providers, environmental regulators who have guided and supported us throughout the construction.”
A Model of Sustainability and Shared Stewardship
The focus then pivoted from the sheer scale of the construction to the project’s environmental and ethical footprint. Ms. Kim Badenhop, Principal Deputy Director of the Bureau of Overseas Building Operations (OBO), detailed the U.S. commitment to making the new facility a leader in sustainability and resilience, reflecting a shared stewardship of the island’s unique ecosystem.
“I am delighted to join you here in Mauritius to celebrate this impressive milestone for our new United States embassy,” Ms. Badenhop began. She stressed that the new facility is not just functional; it will be “a model of sustainability and resilience.”
The commitment of the U.S. Department of State, she explained, extends to being responsible stewards of the beautiful island environment. She provided concrete examples of how the embassy is raising the bar:
- Solar Power: “This embassy will utilise a large solar photovoltaic system with 898 solar panels installed on the rooftops and parking canopies, with a capacity of about 552 kilowatts. This array will generate roughly 766,000 kilowatt hours of electricity each year. That is enough to power around 75 average homes each year.”
- Biodiversity: The site’s landscaping reflects a deep respect for the host country’s biodiversity. “We plan to plant 668 new trees and over 116,000 other plants, shrubs, and ground covers across the compound,” she revealed. “Many of the plant species selected for the landscaping are indigenous to Mauritius, meaning the site will reflect the island’s unique biodiversity and natural heritage.”
- Waste Reduction: Sustainability has guided construction practices, with roughly 80% of all construction waste generated so far being recycled rather than sent to a landfill.
Ms. Badenhop concluded by underscoring the symbolic nature of the investment: “Building an embassy is about more than bricks and mortar. It’s about building a lasting friendship. The new U.S. Embassy in Mauritius will stand as a concrete symbol of the partnership and shared value between both of our countries.”
Ambassador Jardine’s Vision: The Century of Commitment
The strategic, economic, and historical purpose of the new facility was eloquently articulated by the host, His Excellency Henry Jardine, United States Ambassador to the Republic of Mauritius. Ambassador Jardine opened by highlighting his unique personal connection to the site: “This is such an important milestone because this process started about 18 months ago. It’s one that really reflects the strong collaboration, engagement, and partnership that the United States has here in Mauritius.”
Ambassador Jardine, whose prior experience includes serving as the Principal Deputy Director for the OBO, spoke to the long-term thinking behind the building’s expansive design. He confirmed the intention to anchor the U.S. presence for the next century: “We’re not building just for now. We are building for many years into the future. We want this building to be here at least till the next hundred years… we have to think about how this facility needs to support what we hope to accomplish far into the future, many decades into the future.”
He detailed the facility’s mission to advance mutual security, including “countering some of the threats that we see in the region, such as narcotics, financial crimes,” while significantly expanding cultural and economic outreach through “a much larger space for our public programmes, our concert services, all of the outreach that we do.”
Crucially, the Ambassador quantified the immediate economic dividend for Mauritius: “Through the construction of this facility, we have been working with and partnering with literally hundreds of local businesses and workers. In fact, over 400 Mauritian companies… have been involved in this process, and more than USD$26 million has been invested directly into the local economy through this project.”
He concluded by linking the structure to the two-and-a-half-century relationship: “Our diplomatic presence here in Mauritius is one of the first diplomatic presence the United States had overseas when President Washington established the concert presence here in 1794… And so really, this building, this wonderful building behind me, is a continuation of that commitment that goes back more than 240 years.”
The Chief Guest’s Mandate: AGOA and the African Summit
The ceremony culminated with the address from the Guest of honour, His Excellency, Vice President Jean Yvan Robert Hungley, who placed the new embassy firmly within the context of Mauritius’s economic security and its role as a key gateway to Africa.
The Vice President praised the sustainable design and the collaborative spirit: “When we look around, we can feel the remarkable craftsmanship, diligence, and dedication to excellence of the Mauritian and American teams working side-by-side on this project. Their collaboration mirrors the spirit of our bilateral relations, our grounded interests, and mutual respect.”
His core message centred on the future of economic collaboration, particularly referencing the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). He stressed the importance of its long-term stability for national planning:
“AGOA has been instrumental in supporting Mauritian exports, driving job creation, attracting foreign investment, and empowering women and vulnerable groups. Its continuation is essential not only for sustaining our economic gains, but also for enabling new avenues of cooperation and growth. We therefore strongly advocate for its long-term extension so that our industries, universities, and workers may plan with confidence and predictability and continue contributing to the shared prosperity of both our nations.”
VP Hungley highlighted Mauritius’s growing strategic role, noting the significance of hosting the 18th U.S.-Africa Business Summit in 2026. This new facility, he concluded, is more than infrastructure: “It will stand as a beacon of partnership, a hub of cooperation, and a platform for new possibilities… it will help further strengthen people-to-people ties and broaden collaboration in ways that will benefit our citizens for generations to come.”
The Topping-Out Ceremony concluded with the Vice President offering explicit congratulations to the U.S. envoy: “I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Ambassador Jardine, the United States Embassy team, and all local and foreign workers, engineers and professionals whose tireless efforts have brought us to this important milestone.” The new U.S. Embassy in Bagatelle will stand for decades to come as a testament to this profound and enduring friendship.
The ceremony featured traditional topping-out elements, including the placement of Mauritian and U.S flags on a ceremonial rebar tree, raised by crane to the uppermost point of the structure. Vice President Hungley, Ambassador Jardine, and PDD Badenhop then participated on a ceremonial concrete pour at the future Consular entrance, followed by the signing of a commemorative stone.
