FX.co ★ Secret buildings treated with awe

MI6 HQ

The headquarters of the UK Secret Intelligence Service, better known as MI6, is situated on the South Bank of the Thames in the heart of London's Vauxhall district. This postmodern masterpiece, created by renowned architect Terry Farrell, is distinguished by its external appeal and unique security features, including triple-glazed windows, double moats, and specially arranged underground sections. However, in 2000, the facade of the MI6 office was severely damaged in a rocket attack by Irish dissidents.

CIA HQ

The CIA's main office stands in the heart of Virginia, in the suburb of Langley. It is one of the most guarded and secret buildings in the US. The complex consists of two buildings – the old and the new. The latter, commissioned in 1991, is unofficially known as Langley. It has been the scene of several dramatic incidents, including a shooting in 1993, which resulted in the deaths of two employees and injuries to two others, as well as an attempted attack on the CIA in 2021.

BND HQ

The headquarters of the Federal Intelligence Service of Germany (BND) is located in the center of Berlin. The construction of this architectural giant, covering a total area of 259,000 square meters, cost over $1.2 billion. 20,000 tons of steel and 135,000 cubic meters of concrete were used in its construction emphasizing the site's significance. The building work began in 2008 and was completed only in 2019 after several delays, including an ugly incident in 2015 defined as the Berlin Watergate. The building was flooded due to vandals damaging the plumbing.

DGSE HQ

The headquarters of the General Directorate for External Security of France (DGSE) is found in the heart of the 20th arrondissement of Paris, on Boulevard Mortier. The office is housed in the historical Turrell Barracks. This unique complex, consisting of three buildings, forms an inner courtyard securely hidden from public view by a wall. Locals refer to the building as the swimming pool due to its proximity to the Piscine Georges-Vallerey water park. However, the DGSE will not be stationed there much longer. The principal intelligence service of France will be moved to a new office by 2028.

GCHQ HQ

In 2003, the headquarters of the UK Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), which is a key agency in the country's cybersecurity and intelligence sector, moved to a new, large building in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. The GCHQ office occupies an area of 92,000 square meters and consists of three main buildings, a spacious internal courtyard, and a four-story glass atrium, which serves as the centerpiece of its distinctive design. Interestingly, due to its unique circular shape, the building has earned the unofficial nickname The Doughnut.

MSS HQ

Officially, the headquarters of China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS) is located near the historic Tiananmen Square, but insider information suggests otherwise. Sources close to the leadership of the country's main intelligence service report that the secret office of the MSS occupies an entire block in the Haidian district of Beijing, situated to the east of the famous Summer Palace. Today, approximately 10,000 employees work within its walls, out of a total MSS staff of 110,000.