The new U.S. Embassy in London, set for a prime site looking across the Thames at the buildings of Parliament, will be designed by Philadelphia architects KieranTimberlake, according to an announcement made today in London by U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom Louis B. Susman and the Acting Director of the Bureau for Overseas Buildings Operations, Adam Namm.
 
KieranTimberlake’s winning design is a silvery cube sitting in a bit of a moat. The hologram look of three facades is the result of solar shading and blast-resistant glazing. The Philadelphia architects were chosen in a limited competition announced in November 2008 that also included Morphosis Architects, Pei Cobb Freed & Partners, and Richard Meier & Partners, all of whom made presentations in Washington, D.C. in January.

As seen from consular plaza, the facade will incorporate both energy-efficient shading and blast-resistant glazing.

The embassy is located on a prime, five-acre site near the Thames.
 

The cafeteria will offer views over the city and bring in ample natural light.

Groundbreaking is expected in 2013, with completion projected for 2017.

Check back for more details on the winning design, but meanwhile, here are the runner-ups, now on display, along with the winning entry, at the New London Architecture Center, 26 Store Street in London:

Richard Meier & Partners
 

Morphosis
 

Pei Cobb Freed & Partners