Philadelphia-based architect beat three other firms to contract for building in Nine Elms

Kieran Timberlake has won the contract to design the new US Embassy in Nine Elms, London.

The Philadelphia-based architect beat three rivals - Richard Meier & Partners, Morphosis Architects and RIBA gold medal-winner IM Pei of PEI Cobb Freed & Partners – to the job.

In a statement issued today the US Department of State said Kieran Timberlake’s concept “holds the greatest potential for developing a truly iconic embassy and is on the leading edge of sustainable design”.

The project is central to the regeneration of the Nine Elms area of the capital, which is also home to Battersea Power Station.

Work on site is expected to start in 2013, with a view to completing construction in 2017.

Animation of US Embassy