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Site work

2006 Press Releases

Thumbnail of area to be improved
The area around the embassy showing the ugly concrete barriers. (Full size image)

U.S. Embassy to begin work on site improvements

Thumbnail of improvements
The improved area outside the embassy showing the new pavement and new lightweight temporary fence. (Full size image)

Bratislava, April 26, 2006

The U.S. Embassy will begin construction work soon on a project to enhance the appearance of the area around the embassy on Hviezdoslavovo namestie and to improve access to the embassy for visa applicants and other visitors, Ambassador Rodolphe Vallee announced today (April 26).

The SKK 60 million construction project was developed with the approval of the Bratislava city government and will involve a Slovak contractor.

"We want to do all we can to maintain the character and beauty of the area in which our embassy is privileged to be located," explained Ambassador Vallee. "We are and will continue to strive to be a good neighbor to the people living, working and visiting Hviezdoslavovo namestie."

The project includes several elements:

  • The unsightly concrete barriers around the building will be removed. We will install more attractive and pedestrian-friendly bollards.
  • The metal shipping container in front of the embassy will be permanently removed. We will erect a small structure for visitor screening indoors, designed in harmony with surrounding buildings.
  • Thanks to this new visitor reception center, applicants will be able to pick up their visas at an outside window and will not have to re-enter the embassy a second time. This will be more convenient for them and will shorten the wait for other visitors to enter the embassy.
  • The parking area in front of the building will be repaved with stones like those on the rest of the square. This will create a broader sense of space and blend the embassy compound very well with the style of the square.
  • In response to public concerns, we have made a number of changes to the original design.
  • The existing fence will be replaced with another lightweight temporary fence that will be more attractive.
  • The security measures are designed to be temporary and removable.

Ambassador Vallee also announced that the embassy is re-opening its search for a suitable site for a new embassy building and welcomes suggestions of possible new locations. The original site search several years ago identified several possible sites, but the U.S. Government was unable to identify one acceptable to all concerned. Even after a site is found, we note that it will take several years to procure it, and design, fund, construct, and occupy a new building. Therefore, the embassy is seeking to make its current site as attractive and visitor-friendly as possible while at the same time maintaining the security that is necessary to protect the embassy, our visitors and our neighbors on the square from the very real threat of international terrorism.