The site for the New Canadian Chancery in Washington, DC is located on Pennsylvania Avenue, the processional route from the Capitol to the White House. The site faces an intersection between Pennsylvania Avenue and Constitution Avenue, while Judiciary Square, John Marshall Place Park and the National Galley define the site edges. The Chancery completes one quadrant of the square containing the US Courthouse, the DC Courthouse, and the Municipal Center. Because the latter two respond to each other across a pedestrian mall, the Pennsylvania Avenue Development Corporation requested that the Chancery address the US Courthouse located across John Marshall Place Park.

The design of the Chancery reflects the architectural composition of the neighbouring buildings: a base, main body (usually three storeys high) rising to a cornice, an additional floor or balustrade above the cornice, and a penthouse set back from the building face. The "C" shaped plan of the Chancery forms a court oriented towards John Marshall Place Park, which frames the vehicular and pedestrian arrival area. A podium forms the ÒbaseÓ of the building, accessible from both Pennsylvania Avenue and John Marshall Place Park via monumental staircases. On the 'main body' of the building the typical three storey strip windows of the adjacent buildings has been reduced proportionately to a one storey window, and this shape is laid out in a seemingly random manner on each elevation. The discipline is achieved by the regular modular pattern of the stonework. To complete the architectural composition, a rounded cornice and balustrade form one corner of the building. The height of the cornice relates to the lower cornice of the US Courthouse. The penthouse takes on a special purpose: rather than being mechanical and service rooms, it houses executive offices and the representational areas, elevated on the terraced roof. A continuous row of trees along the 40-foot wide easement defines the edge of John Marshall Place Park. Landscape elements are concentrated within the building forecourt, stepping up to enhance and visually extend the adjacent park. On the terraces, pruned espaliers frame the view. The planting culminates at the roof level with a grouping of formal trees. Clipped hedges define private executive terraces at the end of each wing, punctuated with potted topiaries.