To coincide with the resumption of U.S. diplomatic relations with Vietnam, this new consulate was designed and built with a limited budget using local labor and a simple design scheme on a fast-track schedule. Using simple materials like the standing seam metal roof and a plain stucco façade, the design melded into the local neighborhood and achieved a low construction cost ($100.00/sf). The consulate processes more than 1,500 visas per day and all applicants remain outside under well-appointed open pavilions as they wait and conduct business at multiple teller booths. Automated queuing systems control the high volume of visitors. The project introduced a new wide transaction window that has since become standard. The sawtooth window alignment provides acoustical control and privacy for applicants.