Despite the modern design, it is deemed to sit well in its Victorian context as it of similar height to the surrounding buildings.

[4] On 23 May 2011, a 2005 model Cadillac Presidential State Car was involved in an incident when it got stuck on a ramp as it exited the U.S. Embassy during an official visit by President Barack Obama.

The chancery in Ballsbridge, which was 50 years old in 2014, has been deemed "no longer suitable", and an embassy spokesperson stated that the current building no longer meets the needs in terms of size of the expanding American diplomatic presence in Ireland (between 150 and 200 staff work at the embassy),[11] and does not conform to new construction and security requirements ("code") issued by Washington D.C.[12] A number of sites around Dublin City are being considered for the construction of a new embassy building, which will be on larger grounds, will be a larger building than the Ballsbridge Chancery, and may be located nearer to the Ambassador's Residence and Dublin Airport for security reasons and ease of access.

However, completion of the move to a new embassy facility is likely to take up to 10 years and cost tens of millions of dollars.

[14] They provide close protection to the ambassador and high-ranking diplomats when travelling outside of the embassy, as well as motorcade security.

In late 2013, significant upgrades were made to the physical and perimeter security of the embassy, designed to reduce the threat of vehicle bombings and to repel intruders.

[16] This was part of U.S. government security directives at diplomatic missions across 14 different European nations in response to the 2012 Benghazi attacks.