An outpost of the US Department of State the Shultz NFATC complex was built 10 years ago from a design by the joint venture architectural team of Sasaki/Mitchell-Giurgola Associates. It serves as the home of the Foreign Service Institute, the professional development training organization for officers and support personnel of the US foreign affairs community. Holabird & Root will handle design endeavors for the addition of 78,000 sf of space to accommodate administrative, instructional, multipurpose, and storage needs. The team will also design the detached childcare center, which will be 14,000 sf in size.

In testimony to the US House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State, the Judiciary and Related Agencies in April on the President's State Department Budget for 2004, deputy secretary of state Richard L. Armitage, explains the need for upgrading the Shulz NFATC complex, and other government properties. "We continue to improve administrative services, enhance quality of work and life for employees, advance the use of technology, and leverage information resources," he notes. "Vital to improving the quality of work and life for employees is our program for the modern management and renovation of domestic facilities. The construction of new space in the George P. Shultz National Foreign Affairs Training Center will accommodate additional employees and provide a second permanent daycare center." Construction is expected to wrap up in 2006.