The Secret Security of America's London Embassy 

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8:11 "It's Birmingham" I'm dying. Best little side joke in a B1M video ever.

That delivery of "South London..." by Fred was absolute gold

for US, having an embassy in UK is like having a room in their parent's house. 'Special Relationship'.

Have to renew a US visa from time to time, the new Embassy in London is a vast upgrade from the loud, echoey, uncomfortable old facilities. Did not like the location, but prefer how they handle the people.

When the US approached the UK government about their choice for the new embassy location. It fulfilled their priority requirements… They could dig as deep as they wanted with no infrastructure problems (7 times deeper than high above ground). Near the Thames for helicopter access in emergencies, paid for by sale of Grosvenor Square property entirely, they got their own design, size and scale of surroundings before anything else built around, now several new embassies are opening nearby and more to come.

Thanks for using some of our drone footage for this video! It's great to see it incorporated into such a fantastic edit. 10/10!

I think this is a huge upgrade. The old chancery seems like a blight on the historic neighborhood and much more imposing than the current structure, which is surrounded by comparable new developments. Rising from industry and distancing itself from the rest is distinctly American and reminiscent of its history over the past century, while the use of obscure security features while maintaining a friendly appearance is indicative of America's current stance on the world stage.

Very informative. I worked in Grosvenor Square for 3 years during the time of 9/11 and the embassy required increased protection. It was clear it would have to move as increasing numbers of security barriers were put in place.

The contraptions over the windows look more like stylised RPG protection rather than "for birds".

great video. I was walking around here 2 weeks ago, checking it (the US Embassy), and Battersea power station, out. Impressive how they rebuilt and washed the towers etc, of the power station

Really clever design to make the building approachable but extremely safe. Too many embassies have high cement fences and look like prisons. US embassy in Singapore for example. I used to live in Vauxhall in the 2000s, and the change in Nine Elms is incredible, Sainsbury used to have a huge empty car park and there were a lot of unproductive empty warehouses, now there is housing and luxury housing worth a fortune. Good to see a positive change there!

Texas, that was once a republic, actually had an embassy in London in the 1830s

The new location for the chancery also had to deal with available connections to an Internet cable. The American chancery in London is the data processing center for European theater and European intelligence, sent back to CONUS. The data quantities are vast, and this was a major constraint in the older chancery.

This was so interesting for me to watch. My grandfather was a diplomat back in the 50s and they got to do some pretty amazing things and lived all over the world

I love that the old embassy looks totally out of place in Mayfair, but it'd blend in anonymously if it was in L'Enfant plaza in DC.

I've been inside and it's a fascinating building. I worked for the developer who built the Embassy Gardens (Sky Pool) project opposite. I had to liaise with their security staff a few times regarding logistics etc. and we were kindly invited for a tour of the building with the head of security.

That embassy building strongly resembles the Orrin Hatch US Federal Courthouse in Salt Lake City. It's a very similar glass cube elevated on an artificial hill surrounded by defensive fortifications. The courthouse opened in 2014, a few years before the embassy.

You should also check out the new American Embassy in Oslo. They did the exact same thing as in London; sold their prestigious building in one of the most expensive neighbourhoods near the Kings Castle, only to build a new fortressed embassy outside the city centre.

The weirdest embassy in London is the North Korean one in Ealing. I’ve driven past it several times and it just looks like a regular house but it has the NK flag flying outside

Love your videos Fred. Such a pleasure to watch them. Keep up the good work!

america has built an amazing consulate in hyderabad,india as well . the city from which the most students come to america from as well .

Crazy how places like the us embassy can be really fresh and clean and also so well protected.

As a Finn, I'm really surprised that a Finnish-American architect designed the old embassy... Thanks for sharing it! TMYK...

It’s very cool that the U.S. used a host of traditional U.K. design techniques. The intermingling of the trees is a subtly great statement.

Interesting. I've spent a lot of time in the last couple of years working in the former FORMER US Embassy, and former Canadian High Commission on the opposite side of Grosvenor Square, which has now been converted into a luxury residential development. It'll be interesting to see how the new hotel turns out.

Thanks, Fred and B1M! Totally off-topic: Hearing of Mayfair made me think of Warren Zevon and werewolves: "Lately, he's been overheard in Mayfair."

Fascinating episode, as ever. For my money, the new embassy is a brilliant looking building and the immediate gardens / security features very attractive. The whole ensemble fits in very well with the new surroundings and is an excellent destination (for an outside viewing) if you have a couple of hours to spare in London.

The production quality keeps getting better 😊

Came for the embassy, stayed for the excellent London shots 👌

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Loved the video, but one point has me pondering. Florida, while a British colony during the War of Independence (Spain ceded Florida to England at the Peace of Paris of 1763) did not rebel against the Crown. Spain then got Florida back with the Treaty of Paris of 1783. So how exactly were the Duke of Westminster lands seized?

Surely the reason black cab drivers are reluctant to go south of the river late at night is because they don't expect to pick up a fare travelling in the opposite direction, so the trip won't be cost effective, not because Battersea is like Mordor. I suppose the new Battersea Power Station redevelopment takes the sting out of the "nothing here" notion, although granted that doesn't compare with chi chi Mayfair.

Thanks, Fred. Very interesting. I've heard bits and pieces about the Chancery (hehehehe) but I appreciate the context you gave, both historical and current.

I know the castle motif kind of goes against our whole justification of existence symbolically, but a full on castle would’ve looked amazing.

1:45 No, it isn't. The building itself is called the Embassy/Consulate. The people that work in the building are either an Ambassador or consular agent

@TheB1M we can even tell when the drone shots were made looking at the progress of the surrounding construction sites. I am delivering the office block you see wrapped in white in the middle of the screen at 9.18. its completing this month. Let me know if that would be of interest to visitnit and to talk about what developers are doing about ESG (we are one if a few breeam outstanding buildings for example) and about how covid accelerated a new trend of welness for the occupiers (this project was redesigned and launched during the pandemic)

So nice to see you get much joy from creating this content!! ❤

You can tell b1m's British roots. The joy in one's voice in explaining london history unknown to most Americans. Enjoyed this episode.

My Brit wife and I really miss the 'old' building at Grosvenor Sq. It had an atmosphere of prestige and a presence that's difficult to describe. The American Grill downstairs was a special treat for us (and the occasional guest) whenever we traveled into London from my office in Eastcote and later from my office on Grosvenor Sq. located just across the street from the embassy. It was the 'best of times'! 🇺🇸 🇬🇧

You did a brilliant job covering the history of our U.S. Embassy in South London! Well done, Sir!

I think one thing that you can see at 11:51 if you pause the video is how easy it is for the eye to move over the building. Try to find it by scanning the screen and you can only do it because of the one dark corner. Otherwise, it blends witht the Thames. I personally like the embassy and its design elements are very uniquely done

That was really cool. A combination lesson on history & construction. Made a great lunch time Video! Thanks, B1M 👍

Fantastic episode as always; would’ve loved to see more about the tech inside but I think that’s above our cumulative pay grade

The fact that we get free videos from The B1M on RU-vid is priceless, keeping the education and knowledge alive. 🙏🙏🙏

In this 12+ minute video, only about 2 minutes were actually dedicated to "The Secret Architecture of America’s $1BN Fortress". In total the time spent talking about specifically the new embassy probably didn't even reach 4 minutes. That's garbage, not going to lie.

Traveling by on the local trainline daily I watched this being built. Interesting internal structure and not as large as it appears.

Great Video, I had always thought it was a bubble-wrapped Borg Cube. The comparison to the Tower of London is a lot more flattering.

I was a marine security guard at the grosevnor sq location during the final construction of the new building. It was impressive, but having to leave the marine flats in Mayfair and live inside the new embassy would not have been worth it lol.

I liked the slightly new format/delivery of this video/the last couple. Fred is a very good presenter 😌.

Wikipedia American presence Macdonald House, which has since been demolished, was used as the U.S. Embassy from 1938 to 1960, and then by the High Commission of Canada from 1961 to 2014 Grosvenor Square was long a center of American presence in London beginning when John Adams established the first American mission to the Court of St. James's in 1785. Adams lived, from 1785 to 1788, in the house which still stands on the corner of Brook and Duke Streets. During the Second World War American general Dwight D. Eisenhower established a military headquarters at 20 Grosvenor Square, and during this time the square was nicknamed "Eisenhower Platz".[9] Until 2009, the United States Navy continued to use this building as its headquarters for United States Naval Forces Europe. A statue of wartime president Franklin D. Roosevelt sculpted by Sir William Reid Dick stands in the square, as does a later statue of Eisenhower, and a statue of president Ronald Reagan.[10] The square also contains the Eagle Squadrons Memorial. The former United States Embassy of 1938-1960 on the square was purchased by the Canadian government and renamed Macdonald House. It was part of the Canadian High Commission in London until 2014, when all the functions of the Canadian High Commission were transferred to Canada House in Trafalgar Square. The former American embassy building (1960-2018) on the western side of Grosvenor Square is now a hotel In 1960, a new United States Embassy was built on the western side of Grosvenor Square. This was a large and architecturally significant modern design by Eero Saarinen, being at the time a controversial insertion into a mainly Georgian and neo-Georgian district of London. In March and October 1968, there were large demonstrations in the square against US involvement in the Vietnam War. On both occasions, the protest became violent.[11] After 2001 a series of anti-terrorist devices were installed around the embassy, and the road running along the front of the building was closed completely to traffic. In 2006, the Grosvenor Square Safety Group residents association took out advertisements in The Washington Post and The Times, accusing the Metropolitan Police and local government of a "moral failure" for not closing two other roads adjacent to the embassy.[12] In 2008, the United States Government chose a site for a new embassy in the Nine Elms area of the London Borough of Wandsworth, south of the River Thames. Construction of the new Embassy of the United States in London began in 2013, with relocation completed by 2017. In October 2009, following a recommendation by English Heritage, the Saarinen designed building was granted Grade II listed status.[13] The listing means that the new owners will not be allowed to change the facade, which includes the 35-foot-wingspread gilded-aluminium eagle that hovers above the main entrance. In November 2009, the Grosvenor Square property was purchased by the Qatari Diar investment group.[14] Macdonald House, which has since been demolished, was used as the U.S. Embassy from 1938 to 1960, and then by the High Commission of Canada from 1961 to 2014 Grosvenor Square was long a center of American presence in London beginning when John Adams established the first American mission to the Court of St. James's in 1785. Adams lived, from 1785 to 1788, in the house which still stands on the corner of Brook and Duke Streets. During the Second World War American general Dwight D. Eisenhower established a military headquarters at 20 Grosvenor Square, and during this time the square was nicknamed "Eisenhower Platz".[9] Until 2009, the United States Navy continued to use this building as its headquarters for United States Naval Forces Europe. A statue of wartime president Franklin D. Roosevelt sculpted by Sir William Reid Dick stands in the square, as does a later statue of Eisenhower, and a statue of president Ronald Reagan.[10] The square also contains the Eagle Squadrons Memorial. The former United States Embassy of 1938-1960 on the square was purchased by the Canadian government and renamed Macdonald House. It was part of the Canadian High Commission in London until 2014, when all the functions of the Canadian High Commission were transferred to Canada House in Trafalgar Square. The former American embassy building (1960-2018) on the western side of Grosvenor Square is now a hotel In 1960, a new United States Embassy was built on the western side of Grosvenor Square. This was a large and architecturally significant modern design by Eero Saarinen, being at the time a controversial insertion into a mainly Georgian and neo-Georgian district of London. In March and October 1968, there were large demonstrations in the square against US involvement in the Vietnam War. On both occasions, the protest became violent.[11] After 2001 a series of anti-terrorist devices were installed around the embassy, and the road running along the front of the building was closed completely to traffic. In 2006, the Grosvenor Square Safety Group residents association took out advertisements in The Washington Post and The Times, accusing the Metropolitan Police and local government of a "moral failure" for not closing two other roads adjacent to the embassy.[12] In 2008, the United States Government chose a site for a new embassy in the Nine Elms area of the London Borough of Wandsworth, south of the River Thames. Construction of the new Embassy of the United States in London began in 2013, with relocation completed by 2017. In October 2009, following a recommendation by English Heritage, the Saarinen designed building was granted Grade II listed status.[13] The listing means that the new owners will not be allowed to change the facade, which includes the 35-foot-wingspread gilded-aluminium eagle that hovers above the main entrance. In November 2009, the Grosvenor Square property was purchased by the Qatari Diar investment group.[14]” Wikipedia

Great video. I had to go there shortly after it opened. I found it oppressive and impressive in equal measure.

I read at the time that one of the reasons the embassy relocated to Battersea was to avoid the London congestion charge. The Americans had run up a large debt for none payment.

Thanks Fred! You need a part2 with all the very plausible rumors! I'm talking Thames and rail/tube access, and there's NO WAY that faraday-cage--like screening is just for looks.

Hey Fred - just an idea, can you create a video on the Battersea development? I had some early inside knowledge of the development and at that time it looked like a failure. I haven't heard anything since that I have only heard that it's been 'just okay'.

It’s a lot prettier in person than what the video can prove! It’s also walking distance from Chelsea and Mayfair, so not really far.

There is also another 'Little America' in Suffolk where over 50,000 American soldiers arrived in 1942 in what became known as the "friendly invasion". Still a large US influence there today.

LOVED this! I really enjoy on-location B1M videos

very interesting ... I wonder what other modern buildings draw so much from castles and fortresses?

After nearly 50 years Fred and having just watched this video I’ve finally found out what the name ha ha road in Charlton, London actually meant 😂😂always a great watch, stay safe David 👍

As someone who lives near Philly, it was odd hearing him say “you’ll be in excellent company in Kensington”

Always a treat when I get a new morning upload from you!

Please do a series about embassies! The German one in The Hague looks fascinating. Many embassies in Berlin are pieces of architectural art too.

It wasn’t Miami, but what are today the states of Virginia, North & South Carolina. p.s. I would hardly describe Belgravia and Mayfair as west London, despite the ‘W’ in their postcodes.

Have a great New Year Fred. And as always thanks for sharing your great content.

As someone who has been in the old building, this is much nicer.

I worked on the job, with a few of my workmates from the N/E of England. Good job security was mental but that's to be expected I suppose. Everyone had to be thoroughly screened.

Vauxhall USED to be a fairly rough, factory-filled area. I moved to London in 2015 and happened to move to an area within walking distance of Vauxhall. So I saw the demolition of the old disused markets and things. There used to be just one solitary residential tower in the area. The cylindrical one. Now, the entire area is luxury high-rise apartment blocks. I'm not sure whether the new embassy caused the gentrification of the area, or whether it simply magnified and accelerated a process that was already happening anyway. But I would never characterise Vauxhall (and Nine Elms, which is what they renamed the specific part of Vauxhall where the Embassy is) as a bad area. It sits in probably the biggest urban renewal areas of all of the UK. It's pricey, and upmarket. Just very modern upmarket compared to Mayfair, which is old-school upmarket

Not to mentioned, around the Us embassy, the luxury embassy garden and the luxury apartments nearby like the One Thames City newly buildbuilt with Chinese developer and lived with quite alot of Chinese students.

Imagine telling the cab driver you are going to the US embassy and then you end up in Mayfair

You can trust the great USA to build the BIGGEST embassy in London

'its Birmingham'. Best bit of extra subtle comedy I've seen this week. Top marks

none of us will know but if its this fancy on the outside. i cant even begin to imagine the inside and how deep it goes.

The US did something the UK couldn’t do. Made London slightly better.

Hey Fred - Look into the Hyper-Kamkiokande project in Japan. They're excavating right now and it's defo worthy of a piece on this channel. Largest man-made underground cavern in the world making space for a beautiful physics experiment too.

I briefly lived "south of the river" in Battersea in the 1960s and found that when home on leave and returning from meeting up with mates North of the river, I wasn't ever able to get a cab all the way home. I used to get out of the cab on the north side and walk over Battersea Bridge to home which was fortunately not too far away. I'm sure that had I had the good luck to hail cab whose driver lived "over there" he would have taken me all the way home.

This building has one weakness. An attack by bicycle or horse. You could easily ride through those concrete blocks. And no one expects a cavalry attack in the 21st century.

You should see the US embassy in Mozambique.

🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation: 00:01 🏛️ *US Embassy in London introduction* - Symbolizes America abroad. - One of the most technologically advanced embassies. - Discusses unique location and history. 01:42 🌐 *Establishing an Embassy and Location* - Explains embassy establishment and perks. - Highlights West London location. 03:19 🏘️ *Historical Background of Embassy's Location* - Traces historical connection to Mayfair. - Describes architecture and land ownership. 05:20 💰 *Wealth and Investment Insights* - Discusses wealth and investing opportunities. 06:46 🔒 *Security Upgrades and Challenges* - Explains post-9/11 security concerns. - Discusses protests and the need to move. 08:12 🏙️ *Choosing a New Location* - Talks about the decision to move to South London. 09:33 🏰 *Architecture and Security Features* - Describes architectural features and security measures. 11:23 🏢 *Symbolism and Criticisms* - Discusses symbolism and criticism. 12:13 💼 *Sponsorship and Conclusion* - Mentions sponsorship and encourages subscribing. Made with HARPA AI

I love these videos. I like to play a fun drinking game called the 1BN. Basically you take a shot every time he says " in the world "

Now THAT was a master segue into the sponsor -- BRAVO!

It's also a short walk to MI6 headquarters...

2:03: Homer’s always the patriot, isn’t he?

I love this channel and I never miss an episode. I'm curious, where does the name B1M come from?

I forget exactly where, but England recognized the Republic of Texas and allowed an embassy. Probably not a topic for B1M, but a nod would have been nice.

I’m glad real estate agent Fred can explain the unexplainable so well. What tops a US embassy in GB is a High Commission in Canberra.

HEY!!!!!! Birmingham is beautiful you madlad!!!

Very nice video with all the story behind embassies.

The new embassy is beautiful and a superb design.

9:26 "The rock solid nature of American Democracy" - I'm an American and it pains me to say that after the last election, I feel this building is more rock solid than my own government

I remember being in Budapest this year and seeing a whole block of Fortified fences and shit in the middle of the city. I thought to myself this has to be like the U.S. or Russia embassy and yep, asked a security guard and indeed it was, check that out on google you'll see what i mean :D

South London, the refuse tip isn't to far away either half a mile to be precise , I wonder if that might have gone as well. In fact I have just had a look and Cringle Dock Solid Waste Transfer Station is still their, A stone throughs away from the new US Embassy, nice and stinky down the dump, sweet.

One detail you left out of your very well done video is the £1B+ Russia essentially wasted buying up surrounding property though I imagine they made a decent profit selling them (though time is more valuable in that line of work).

It’s funny I’m right next to it as we speak I work in Nine Elms

Tbf the most controversial American embassy is the one in Jersualem

I'm pretty sure there is more to the building than meets the eye... There are definitely some hidden underground floors or tunnels connecting to some nearby squares and much more.... But yeah it's pleasing to see that none of those things are visible.

I think it was a smart choice for a location. By the time it was being planned South London had already cleaned up nicely but was property was still much more affordable than the rich neighborhoods across the river. Plus, as far as security its much better over there because if it were attacked, the results would have devastating to the neighborhood in the old location. With the new location, the buildings are spaced out more and they are newer... Old buildings would suffer more damage in an explosion.

"It's Birmingham" 🤣

They literally put in a moat.

I was just settling down and was thinking how I'm enjoying the intro around minute 12, and booom it was over😬😬😬Felt too short, I guess it was that good😂😂😂