Federal Architecture: A Return to Tradition

In a move that reinforces the identity of American civic architecture, then-administrator of the General Services Administration (GSA), Stephen Ehiakian, issued a memorandum in January favoring classical and traditional design for new federal buildings. This decision, titled “Making Federal Architecture Beautiful Again,” reignites the debate on the identity of government architecture and its role in promoting civic and aesthetic values.

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Following a memorandum issued in January, then-administrator of the General Services Administration (GSA), Stephen Ehiakian, ordered recommendations to advance a policy aiming to make federal buildings visually identifiable as civic buildings, with a preference for classical or traditional design styles.

This order applies to the following projects: all U.S. courthouses and federal agency buildings, all buildings within Washington, D.C. and its surrounding areas, as well as any other federal building whose design and construction costs exceed $50 million. However, the order does not apply to land ports of entry or infrastructure projects.

This is the second such order during former President Donald Trump’s tenure, following a similar one issued at the end of his first term in 2020, which was revoked by President Joe Biden shortly after he took office. Like its predecessor, this second iteration establishes classical architecture as the “preferred and default” style for federal buildings in the capital and recommends its preference for new projects elsewhere.

The order stipulated:
“Federal public buildings must elevate and beautify public spaces, inspire the human spirit, and enhance civic pride and respect among the general public. They must also be visually identifiable as civic buildings and, where appropriate, respect regional architectural heritage. Classical architecture shall be the preferred and default style for federal public buildings, absent exceptional factors requiring another architectural style.”

In response to the memorandum, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) issued a statement denouncing the decision as “horrific,” but had not issued a response to the new executive order as of the publication of this article. This decision is likely to have a broad impact on the architectural profession, especially for firms competing for or previously awarded GSA contracts. Conversely, design firms specializing in classical and traditional styles may benefit.

As detailed, the GSA was asked to proactively “recruit” firms with classical design expertise when launching design competitions for federal projects. The order also states that multiple designs adhering to the Trump administration’s preferred styles should be advanced to the “final evaluation round” in these competitions.

The move was celebrated by the National Civic Art Society, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit whose president, Justin Shubow, was a driving force behind both the 2020 and the latest 2024 orders. A 2020 survey commissioned by the National Civic Art Society found that nearly 72% of 2,000 adults preferred traditional over modern styles for federal buildings.

In response to that survey, the AIA wrote: “This is not a question of stylistic preferences for federal buildings or a popular majority. It is about the need for a process that allows for community input and possesses the flexibility to ensure federal buildings reflect the culture and needs of local communities… The outlined guidelines impose an ideological agenda on federal design.”

The executive order also criticized the GSA’s Design Excellence Program, established in 1994, claiming it had failed to meet its goals and often “selects designs by prominent architects with little consideration for local input or regional aesthetic preferences.”

The issuance of the order came just days after the creation of a National Design Studio, led by Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia in the role of Chief Design Officer. (Gebbia, a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, is also a supporter of the Eames Institute and co-founder of the prefab housing startup Samara). The studio’s primary focus is not architecture, but rather overhauling and redesigning the federal government’s digital interface.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration’s lavish interior renovations of the White House continue, with plans to build a $200 million grand ballroom adjacent to the East Wing, drawing criticism from historic preservation groups.

✦ Archup Editorial Vision

This article discusses the new policy mandating classical architecture as the default style for U.S. federal buildings, reigniting the debate on the government’s role in shaping the visual identity of public architecture. Our positive critique is that the article provides comprehensive and balanced coverage, presenting both supporting and opposing viewpoints and documenting the potential impact on architects and engineers. However, the analysis could have been deepened by examining similar historical examples and their long-term effects. Overall, the article highlights a central issue touching the core of the architectural profession and its interaction with policy and cultural identity, opening the door for a necessary debate on design freedom versus government directive.