Architect of the Capitol — Managing the Capitol Complex & Congressional Buildings

The Architect of the Capitol (AOC) is the federal agency responsible for the maintenance, operation, development, and preservation of the United States Capitol complex — approximately 17.4 million square feet of building space and more than 570 acres of grounds in Washington, D.C. Despite the title, the Architect is not primarily a designer — the position is the chief operating officer of one of the most historically significant building complexes in the world. The AOC's portfolio includes the Capitol building itself (including the iconic dome, Rotunda, and National Statuary Hall), the Senate office buildings (Russell, Dirksen, Hart), the House office buildings (Cannon, Longworth, Rayburn), the Capitol Visitor Center (the largest expansion in the Capitol's history, opened 2008), the Library of Congress buildings (Jefferson, Adams, Madison), the Supreme Court building, the U.S. Botanic Garden (the oldest continually operating botanic garden in North America, established 1820), the Capitol Power Plant (providing steam and chilled water to the complex), and the surrounding grounds, roads, and infrastructure. The AOC employs approximately 2,200 people — architects, engineers, electricians, plumbers, carpenters, painters, horticulturists, and other skilled tradespeople who keep the complex functioning. The Architect is appointed by the President from a shortlist prepared by a congressional commission, confirmed by the Senate, and serves a 10-year term (2 U.S.C. § 1801). See Capitol Police for the law enforcement agency protecting the complex and Federal Property (GSA) for the parallel management of non-congressional federal buildings.

Current Law (2026)

Legal Authority

• 2 U.S.C. § 1801 — Appointment of Architect of the Capitol (10-year term, presidential appointment, Senate confirmation)
• 2 U.S.C. § 1811 — Powers and duties of the Architect
• 2 U.S.C. § 1821 — Capitol complex administration
• 2 U.S.C. § 1801a — Appointment and term of service (President appoints from a congressional commission shortlist; Senate confirmation required; 10-year term — ensuring continuity across multiple Congresses)
• 2 U.S.C. § 1802 — Compensation (Architect's salary set by statute)
• 2 U.S.C. § 1803 — Delegation of authority (Architect may delegate any duty or power to employees; delegation does not relieve the Architect of responsibility)
• 2 U.S.C. § 1805/1805a — Deputy Architect (serves as acting Architect during absence, disability, or vacancy — ensuring continuous management of the Capitol complex)
• 2 U.S.C. § 1808 — Inspector General (independent IG conducts audits, investigations, and inspections of AOC operations and expenditures)
• 2 U.S.C. § 1812 — Care and superintendence of the Capitol (Architect has custody and charge of the Capitol building, its grounds, and all public property therein)
• 2 U.S.C. § 1813 — Exterior of Capitol (Architect responsible for the exterior of the Capitol building, including the dome, walls, and approaches)
• 2 U.S.C. § 1814 — Repairs of Capitol (Architect authorized to make necessary repairs to the Capitol building)
• 2 U.S.C. § 1816/1816a — Construction and design-build contracts (Architect may enter construction contracts and use design-build contracting for Capitol complex projects)
• 40 U.S.C. §§ 5101–5109 — Capitol Police and Capitol grounds jurisdiction (overlap with AOC responsibilities)

How It Works

The AOC runs one of the most complex facility management operations in the federal government. The Capitol building alone is over 225 years old and requires constant conservation — from the cast-iron dome to the underground tunnels connecting buildings to the mechanical systems providing heating, cooling, and power. The AOC manages approximately 600 tenant spaces for members of Congress, committees, and staff, and handles office moves every two years after elections, ADA accessibility, fire safety, and emergency preparedness. The Capitol complex also contains some of the nation's most significant historic architecture and art — the Rotunda murals, the Brumidi Corridors, the National Statuary Hall collection (100 statues donated by the 50 states), and decorative elements dating to the early 19th century. Major restoration projects reflect the ongoing conservation mission: the Capitol Dome restoration (2014–2016, $60 million), the Cannon House Office Building renovation (ongoing, $750+ million), and the Supreme Court building modernization.

The Capitol Visitor Center — opened in 2008 as a 580,000-square-foot underground facility beneath the East Front plaza — serves as the primary public entrance, houses an exhibition on the history of Congress, and provides secure screening; it was the largest infrastructure project in the Capitol's history and handles approximately 3 million visitors per year. The AOC also operates the Capitol Power Plant, a centralized utility generating steam (for heating) and chilled water (for air conditioning) distributed to Capitol complex buildings through underground tunnels — the plant has been transitioning from coal to natural gas and is exploring further emissions reductions.

How It Affects You

If you're planning a visit to the Capitol: Every space you'll experience — the Capitol Visitor Center (580,000 square feet underground, opened 2008), the Rotunda, National Statuary Hall, the House and Senate galleries — is maintained by the AOC. The Capitol Visitor Center is the required entry point for public tours (free admission, reserve in advance through your member of Congress's office) and provides a full exhibition on Congress's history before you see the chambers. The U.S. Botanic Garden on the Mall is AOC-managed and free to visit year-round. Accessibility: AOC has invested significantly in ADA-compliant access across the complex, though some historic spaces have physical limitations — contact the CVC in advance if you have mobility needs. The January 6, 2021 attack caused approximately $30 million in damage to the Capitol's historic architecture, finishes, and art — much of it repaired in the years since, though some restoration work continues.

If you're a member of Congress or work for a congressional office: The AOC is your building manager for every aspect of your physical office — space allocation (based on a seniority-driven lottery process for new members), maintenance requests, office moves, furniture, and building systems. After each election, the AOC coordinates a major office shuffle as incoming members select spaces and departing members vacate. The Cannon House Office Building renovation (the AOC's largest current project at $750+ million) has displaced House staff during construction phases, requiring temporary office relocations that the AOC manages. For day-to-day operations, the AOC's work management system is your contact point for everything from a broken HVAC to an emergency power issue. The AOC does not control your IT systems (that's the House/Senate Sergeant at Arms), but it manages the physical infrastructure those systems run on.

If you're a taxpayer evaluating the federal real estate portfolio: The AOC's ~$800 million annual budget — included in the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act — funds the maintenance, preservation, and operation of some of the most historically significant and operationally complex buildings in the country. The Capitol dome restoration (completed 2016, $60 million) prevented structural deterioration that would have been far more expensive to address later. The Cannon House Office Building renovation ($750+ million ongoing) is modernizing a 100-year-old building's mechanical, electrical, and fire safety systems while preserving its Beaux-Arts architecture — the alternative is a building that becomes increasingly difficult to occupy safely. The Capitol Power Plant, which provides steam heating and chilled water cooling to the entire complex through underground tunnels, is transitioning from coal to natural gas as part of sustainability commitments. AOC facility management is one of the more defensible categories of federal spending — deferred maintenance on historic buildings compounds into dramatically larger costs.

If you work in architecture, historic preservation, or building conservation: The AOC manages one of the most significant concentrations of historic architecture and public art in the Western Hemisphere — including the Brumidi Corridors (19th-century fresco work throughout the Senate wing), the Rotunda's historic murals, the 100 statues in National Statuary Hall (each donated by a state), the cast-iron Capitol Dome (an engineering achievement of the Civil War era), and buildings ranging from 1793 foundations to 20th-century office buildings. The AOC employs specialized craftspeople — conservators, fresco restorers, historic masonry specialists, bronze casters — as permanent staff, reflecting the scale and continuity of preservation work required. Major restoration projects including the dome, Cannon, and Supreme Court building create periodic procurement opportunities for specialized subcontractors and consultants. The AOC's approach to preserving occupied, actively used historic buildings — not museum-preserved — offers practical case studies in adaptive preservation at scale.

State Variations

The AOC is exclusively a federal legislative branch agency. State capitols have their own building management agencies, but they operate independently.

Implementing Regulations

Note: The Architect of the Capitol (AOC) is a legislative branch agency and does not issue CFR regulations. Its operations are governed by 2 USC §§ 1801–1862 and specific congressional appropriations. AOC construction and maintenance standards follow the Architect's internal directives and applicable building codes.

Pending Legislation

AOC funding is included in the annual Legislative Branch Appropriations Act. No standalone AOC reform legislation is pending in the 119th Congress.

Recent Developments

The Cannon House Office Building renovation — a multi-year, $750+ million project — is the AOC's largest current undertaking, modernizing the century-old building's mechanical, electrical, and fire safety systems while preserving its Beaux-Arts architecture. The January 6, 2021 attack caused approximately $30 million in damage to the Capitol complex, requiring extensive repairs. The AOC has also invested in sustainability — transitioning the Capitol Power Plant to natural gas, installing solar panels, and improving energy efficiency across the complex. The Capitol's iconic dome, restored in 2016, continues to receive conservation attention.