Federal agencies would favor classical designs for major public buildings

Federal agencies shall follow design principles that favor classical and traditional architecture for covered public buildings, when practical. Covered buildings include federal courthouses, agency headquarters, buildings in the National Capital Region, and other projects expected to cost more than $50 million in 2025 dollars. Infrastructure projects and land ports of entry are excluded. Alternative styles remain possible in appropriate circumstances. Designs should respect regional traditions, use dependable construction methods, remain economical to build and maintain, and be accessible. When renovating, reducing, or expanding a building that does not meet the preferred criteria, agencies should examine whether redesign is feasible and affordable.

The General Services Administration must update its policies and give classical and traditional design experience greater weight in design reviews and competitions. These directions apply to GSA staff and design selections for covered federal public buildings, including design-build competitions and other design competitions. GSA architects involved in reviewing or approving designs must have formal training or substantial experience in classical or traditional architecture. GSA must create a senior architectural-design adviser position and recruit qualified firms for design competitions. For design-build competitions, classical or traditional experience must be listed as specialized experience and given substantial weight when advancing bidders. Implementation remains subject to existing law and available funding. GSA must update its policies expeditiously. The order does not set a final deadline for those updates.

The GSA Administrator must notify the President before approving a proposed design that departs from the preferred architecture. The requirement covers new applicable federal public buildings, including designs using or related to Brutalist or Deconstructivist styles. The notice must explain why the design is justified and compare its beauty, expected construction cost, maintenance cost, and replacement cost with seriously considered preferred-style alternatives. The notice is required before GSA could reject the design without substantial expenditures. The order does not itself ban alternative designs. Notice must be sent at least 30 days before the point when GSA could reject the design without incurring substantial expenditures.