FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 8, 2009

Contact:

Lauren Sucher
+1-202-429-3822
lsucher@usip.org

(Washington, D.C.) - The United States Institute of Peace (USIP) today celebrates a milestone in the construction of its permanent headquarters facility on the northwest corner of the National Mall, known as a "topping out" ceremony.

"Topping out" refers to the day when a construction team pours the last bit of concrete for the base structure of the building. Traditionally, workers sign their names or put a special mark in the concrete to commemorate their efforts.

Tara Sonenshine, Executive Vice President of USIP, said, "Having a permanent headquarters will allow the Institute to significantly expand its outreach. We will be able to deepen and broaden our collaboration with others through conferences, school group visits, training, and other programs. The lessons learned over the past 25 years of Institute work, building and shaping the field of international conflict management, give us a strong foundation upon which we will continue to build in the future."

In addition to being a functional office space, the Institute’s new headquarters building and its location demonstrate the United States’ commitment to peacebuilding. Currently, USIP hosts numerous public events each month on a wide range of subjects dealing with war and peace. The new headquarters will feature a state-of-the-art negotiation and conference center for classes, trainings, visiting dignitaries and other gatherings. The Institute’s new facilities will also have classroom space for school groups visiting Washington, D.C., as well as a 20,000 square-foot Public Education Center (PEC). The PEC will attract up to half a million visitors per year to its exhibits, interactive modules, simulations and multimedia presentations about international conflict and conflict resolution.

Renderings of the building and more information about the project are available online.

The United States Institute of Peace is an independent, nonpartisan institution established and funded by Congress. Its goals are to help prevent and resolve violent international conflicts, promote post-conflict stability and development, and increase conflict management capacity, tools, and intellectual capital worldwide. The Institute does this by empowering others with knowledge, skills, and resources, as well as by directly engaging in peacebuilding efforts around the globe.