Embassy of the Commonwealth of Australia
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Interpretive architectural study of the catalogued property.
1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
Folded copper panels wrap Bates Smart’s 2023 chancery at Scott Circle. A tall central atrium brings daylight deep into the building, while the glazed ground floor opens its public face to Massachusetts Avenue.
| Fact | Value | Basis and sources |
|---|---|---|
| Constructed | 2023 | verified |
| Acquired by Australia | Not verified | unverified; Current building commissioned by Australia; the original land-acquisition year has not been established. |
| Neighborhood | Scott Circle | verified |
| Architect | Bates Smart; KCCT | verified; Bates Smart design architect; KCCT architect of record. |
| Rooms | 140–385 est. | estimated; Planning estimate: rooms = building area × room-area fraction ÷ average room size. For this office, ceremonial and parking property, assume 30%–50% of the recorded 214,094 sq ft is enclosed usable room area, with an average 280–450 sq ft per room. The range combines the low fraction with the larger room size and the high fraction with the smaller size, rounded outward to five rooms. Room allocation and average size are assumptions. Covers the recorded building area; the interior has not been independently measured. Estimated room range. |
| Floor area | 214,094 sq ft | verified; Architect reports 19,890 m² project area, converted to square feet; other project participants report different scopes. |
| Site area | 30,300 sq ft | verified; Active DC ITSPE record, SSL 0181 0162: LANDAREA 30,300 sq ft. The two CAMA building entries were not added together because one concerns the predecessor building. |
| 2026 Value | $150,612,710 | verified; DC Office of Tax and Revenue, tax year 2026: land $22,437,760 plus improvements $128,174,950; square/lot 0181 0162, PDF page 271. Tax assessment. Adjacent separately assessed parcels are not added. |
| First diplomatic use | 2023 | verified; Current building opened 24 October 2023. |
Scope and Evidence
Research Questions
Where Is Embassy of the Commonwealth of Australia?
1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036.
When Was Embassy of the Commonwealth of Australia Built?
Constructed: 2023. Record status: verified.
Who Designed Embassy of the Commonwealth of Australia?
Architect: Bates Smart; KCCT. Record status: verified. Bates Smart design architect; KCCT architect of record.
What Is the Floor Area of Embassy of the Commonwealth of Australia?
Floor area: 214,094 sq ft. Record status: verified. Architect reports 19,890 m² project area, converted to square feet; other project participants report different scopes.
What Is the Site Area of Embassy of the Commonwealth of Australia?
Site area: 30,300 sq ft. Record status: verified. Active DC ITSPE record, SSL 0181 0162: LANDAREA 30,300 sq ft. The two CAMA building entries were not added together because one concerns the predecessor building. Verified in the record on 2026-10-29.
What Is the 2026 Value of Embassy of the Commonwealth of Australia?
2026 Value: $150,612,710. Record status: verified. DC Office of Tax and Revenue, tax year 2026: land $22,437,760 plus improvements $128,174,950; square/lot 0181 0162, PDF page 271. Tax assessment. Adjacent separately assessed parcels are not added. This is a tax assessment, not a verified sale price or market valuation.