Embassy of Finland in Washington Celebrated as First Green Embassy in the U.S.

Posted by Susanna at 2:01 PM, Feb 25, 2010 (Comments)

Category: Events

Mrs. Laurel Colless, the wife of the Finnish Ambassador; Philippa Hughes of the Pink Line Project; and Finnish Ambassador Pekka Lintu.

THE EMBASSY OF FINLAND in Washington, D.C., located on Embassy Row/Massachusetts Avenue, celebrated its building's recognition as the first green embassy in the U.S. at an event on Wednesday evening, February 24. The beautiful and modernistic embassy edifice - an architectural landmark in the U.S. capital -- has been awarded the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for existing buildings, marking the first time a diplomatic mission in the U.S. has received this recognition. The Finnish Ambassador Pekka Lintu and his wife Laurel Colless were hosts during this celebration, and the Ambassador also received the award from the Council.

Jim Healy, Christine T. Mangi and Nick Schandlbauer

THE MANY GUESTS - who were asked to wear something green (which actually not many did pay heed to!) -- could feast on a fabulous buffet with many Scandinavian delicacies and martini drinks lit up by a bluish light, put together by the executive chef at the Embassy of Finland, Mikko S.P. Kosonen, and his colleague at the Swedish Embassy, Martin Johansson.

Nils Bruzelius and his wife Lynne Weil

BEHIND THE ARRANGEMENTS for the creative programs during this festive evening were art impresario Philippa Hughes and her arts organization The Pink Line Project (www.pinklineproject.com). The performers and artists were the musicians Christylez Bacon (nominated for a Grammy!), the dance company City Dance Ensemble, and video DJ was John Bowen/Videokillers, and painter Cory Oberndorfer.

Lena Skanby and Richard Gould

Martin Johansson, Executive Chef at the Embassy of Sweden, and Mikko S.P. Kosonen, Executive Chef at the Embassy of Finland, arranged a fabulous buffet.

Finnish Press Secretary Kari Mokko and Christina R. Sevilla, Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative.

Veronica Jackson and Paula Schumann

Jenni Järventaus, Lars Roth, Saija Nurminen and Suzanne D.A. de Groot

Isciane Rouziere and Bipin Badhe

Christine T. Mangi and Michel Heitstuman

Kamran Hasan, Izumi Yamanaka and Bipin Badhe

Heiko Hesse, Benjamin Loewy and Eric Brewer

  Ambassador Pekka Lintu (to the right) receives the LEED Gold award for the Finnish Embassy. The LEED rating system provides a suite of standards for environmentally sustainable construction and existing buildings.

  The evening's video DJ was John Bowen/Videokillers.

The Embassy of Finland is located on Massachusetts Avenue in Washington, D.C. Its building is being recognized as the first "green" embassy in the U.S.  

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