Embassy of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
View the architectural study
Interpretive architectural study of the catalogued property.
3506 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
A tall stone blade and curved glass pavilion mark Ethiopia’s chancery at the International Chancery Center. Its rear floors descend with the hillside.
| Fact | Value | Basis and sources |
|---|---|---|
| Constructed | 2000 | verified; Completion/opening year; exact construction interval not established. |
| Acquired by Ethiopia | Not verified | unverified; No verified acquisition or lease commencement date found. |
| Neighborhood | North Cleveland Park | verified; Historic district / International Chancery Center setting. |
| Architect | RTKL Associates, Rodman Henderer | verified; Original building attribution; Wilets Architecture designed the 2015 guardhouse additions. |
| Rooms | 95 | estimated; Low-confidence estimate for six-story chancery offices, meeting/reception space, kitchenettes, and the guardhouse. 45,000 sq ft × 0.58 room-floor fraction ÷ 280 sq ft average counted room = about 95 rooms; sensitivity range 45–160. This is not a surveyed inventory. |
| Floor area | 45,000 sq ft | estimated; Main chancery and guardhouse estimated at 45,000 sq ft (34,000–53,000); official roof outlines and the documented six-story form support the calculation. Any garage extension beyond the main outline remains unmeasured. |
| Site area | 28,870 sq ft | verified; DC owner polygon/assessment record SSL 2055 0813: LANDAREA 28,870 sq ft. The address point and building footprints fall on this mission-specific federal parcel; the United States is the recorded landowner. |
| 2026 Value | $18,205,660 | verified; SSL 2055 0813, CY1YEAR 2026: ASSESSMENT $18,205,660, comprising PHASELAND $4,331,940 and PHASEBUILD $13,873,720. This assesses the federal parcel and improvements, not an Ethiopian fee-simple land interest. |
Scope and Evidence
The model reconciles the supplied October 2026 overhead and street photographs with published NCPC photographs and drawings. Rooflights, mechanical plant, the recessed glazed link, the pavilion glazing patterns, and the forecourt follow the combined views. Dimensions are proportional estimates.
The NCPC scope confirms six stories and the existing parking garage. Lower floors descend the hillside. The visible side opening pattern is distinct from the eight-bay street facade; obscured rear openings remain inferred. The garage approach follows the prior plan-based placement; detailed underground circulation is not reconstructed.
Parcel area and 2026 assessment are established for SSL 2055 0813. Building and room totals are qualified estimates; the floor-area scope excludes any unmeasured garage extension.
- cfa.gov
- commons.wikimedia.org
- ethiopianembassy.org
- ethiopianfood.wordpress.com
- maps2.dcgis.dc.gov
- maps2.dcgis.dc.gov
- maps2.dcgis.dc.gov
- www.ncpc.gov
- www.ncpc.gov
- www.washingtonpost.com
Research Questions
Where Is Embassy of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia?
3506 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008. Exact DC Master Address Repository address point; not an entrance survey.
When Was Embassy of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Built?
Constructed: 2000. Record status: verified. Completion/opening year; exact construction interval not established. Verified in the record on 2026-10-29.
Who Designed Embassy of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia?
Architect: RTKL Associates, Rodman Henderer. Record status: verified. Original building attribution; Wilets Architecture designed the 2015 guardhouse additions. Verified in the record on 2026-10-29.
What Is the Floor Area of Embassy of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia?
Floor area: 45,000 sq ft. Record status: estimated. Main chancery and guardhouse estimated at 45,000 sq ft (34,000–53,000); official roof outlines and the documented six-story form support the calculation. Any garage extension beyond the main outline remains unmeasured. Record reviewed on 2026-10-29.
What Is the Site Area of Embassy of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia?
Site area: 28,870 sq ft. Record status: verified. DC owner polygon/assessment record SSL 2055 0813: LANDAREA 28,870 sq ft. The address point and building footprints fall on this mission-specific federal parcel; the United States is the recorded landowner. Verified in the record on 2026-10-29.
What Is the 2026 Value of Embassy of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia?
2026 Value: $18,205,660. Record status: verified. SSL 2055 0813, CY1YEAR 2026: ASSESSMENT $18,205,660, comprising PHASELAND $4,331,940 and PHASEBUILD $13,873,720. This assesses the federal parcel and improvements, not an Ethiopian fee-simple land interest. This is a tax assessment, not a verified sale price or market valuation. Verified in the record on 2026-10-29.