Beautifying Federal Civic Architecture Act

Beautifying Federal Civic Architecture Act

This bill declares U.S. policy applicable to public buildings and establishes the President's Council on Improving Federal Civic Architecture.

The policy includes that

• applicable federal public buildings should uplift and beautify public spaces, command respect from the general public, be visually identifiable as civic buildings, respect regional architectural heritage, and meet other specified criteria;
• in the District of Columbia, classical architecture is the preferred and default architecture for federal public buildings absent exceptional factors;
• buildings that do not meet specified criteria should be considered for redesign where feasible and economical, particularly with respect to the exterior of the applicable federal building; and
• the General Services Administration (GSA) should seek input from future users of the applicable federal public buildings and the general public in the community where such buildings will be located before selecting an architectural firm or design style and give the general public's input substantial consideration.

The GSA must adhere to the policy. If the GSA proposes to approve a design for a new applicable federal public building that diverges from the preferred architecture, it must notify the Office of the Domestic Policy Advisor and Congress not later than 30 days before the date on which the GSA could reject the design without incurring substantial expenditures and describe the reasons for proposing to approve the design.

Bill 118 hr 3627, also known as the Beautifying Federal Civic Architecture Act, aims to promote the classical architectural style for federal buildings in the United States. The bill was introduced in the House of Representatives on June 25, 2021, by Representative Jeff Duncan from South Carolina.

The main purpose of this bill is to require that all federal buildings constructed or renovated after the enactment of the bill adhere to the principles of classical architecture. This means that federal buildings should be designed in a way that reflects the traditional architectural styles that have been used in the United States for centuries.

Proponents of the bill argue that promoting classical architecture for federal buildings will help create a sense of unity and continuity in the nation's architectural landscape. They believe that classical architecture is timeless and represents the values and ideals of the American people. Opponents of the bill, however, argue that mandating a specific architectural style for federal buildings limits creativity and innovation in design. They believe that architects should have the freedom to choose the style that best fits the purpose and context of the building. If passed, the Beautifying Federal Civic Architecture Act would have a significant impact on the design and construction of federal buildings across the country. It would require federal agencies to prioritize classical architectural styles in their building projects and ensure that new federal buildings reflect the traditional values and aesthetics of American architecture.