Government operations
Making Federal Architecture Beautiful Again
Classical and traditional architecture becomes the preferred style for major Federal public buildings, with classical architecture the default in Washington, D.C.
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The order reshapes how Federal courthouses, agency headquarters, National Capital Region buildings, and other projects costing more than $50 million are designed, reviewed, and renovated.
What the order does
- Directs agencies to favor classical and traditional designs while considering regional heritage, public preferences, accessibility, durability, and cost.
- Requires the General Services Administration to update its design policies, employ qualified reviewers, and create a senior architectural design adviser specializing in classical architecture.
- Gives classical and traditional architecture experience substantive weight in certain design-build competitions and directs GSA to recruit firms with that experience.
- Requires GSA to notify the President at least 30 days before approving a nonpreferred design, including Brutalist or Deconstructivist architecture, and compare its justification and lifecycle costs with preferred alternatives.
- Directs agencies to consider economical exterior redesigns when renovating, reducing, or expanding Federal buildings that do not meet the new standards.
Who it affects
- Federal agencies planning or managing covered public buildings.
- Architects, designers, artists, contractors, and GSA employees involved in Federal building projects.
- Members of the public who use Federal courthouses, agency headquarters, and other covered buildings.