by Marcy Marro | August 3, 2020 12:00 am
Earlier this year[1], I wrote about a proposed executive order floating around that would change the architectural guidelines for federal architecture. Known as “Making Federal Buildings Beautiful Again,” the proposal looked to rewrite the 1962 Guiding Principles for Federal Architecture to ensure that “the classical architectural style shall be the preferred and default style,” for any new and upgraded federal buildings.
A few weeks ago, Representative Dina Titus, chair of the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management, which oversees the GSA and federal buildings, proposed the “Democracy in Design Act”[2] (H.R.7604[3]), which would override the executive order by directing the “the Administrator of General Services Administration (GSA) to ensure that the construction and acquisition of public buildings in the United States adheres to the Guiding Principles for Federal Architecture.” By making the GSA’s Design Excellence Program principles into statute, Congress will ensure the federal government is able to maintain its current neutrality on architectural styles.
Congresswoman Titus said, “Our public buildings should reflect the rich diversity of our nation and its people. They should signify our progress over the years and be as accessible as possible.”
In support of the act, AIA 2020 President Jane Frederick, FAIA, said in a statement[4], “Mandating any single design style will undermine the value of the very architectural style it seeks to promote. Buildings—both functionally and aesthetically—must be designed to serve their populations. It’s critical that communities have the ability to decide for themselves what architectural design best fits their needs.”
In other Congressional news, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi recently announced the Climate Crisis Action Plan[5], and the policy goals needed to combat climate change and increase resilience. There are three core objectives to the plan: 100% clean and net zero emissions economy-wide by 2050; reduced pollution in “environmental justice” communities; and net negative emissions in the second half of the century.
Special attention was paid to the consideration of climate-vulnerable and underserved communities, indicating that social equity is a principle running throughout the entire plan. As part of this, Donald McEachin (D-Va.), laid out his Environmental Justice for All Act, aimed at giving all communities a voice and tools to fight pollution.
The plan is designed to transform critical industries of the built environment, including energy, equity and infrastructure. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D.-Ore.), noted that in transitioning to a clean energy economy, supporting the workforce is a necessity, and the plan includes bills for bettered labor standards, green apprenticeships for historically excluded populations and a National Economy Transition Office to aid displaced fossil fuel workers. Additionally, Rep. Sean Casten (D.-Ill.), and Rep. Mike Levin (D-Calif.), noted the need for green public spaces, improved energy efficiency, an expansion of the solar energy tax credits and climate resilience initiatives. The plan also calls on Congress to strengthen environmental standards for federally funded projects and building codes to ensure the resilience of infrastructure and the health and safety of inhabitants. Together, these measures indicate that mitigating and preparing for the effects of climate change will take the rethinking and reworking of U.S. buildings.
Think tank Energy Innovation provided an independent analysis of the plan that predicts it would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 88% below 2010 levels, prevent 62,000 premature deaths annually and produce $8 trillion in benefits, all by 2050.
Elizabeth Beardsley, Senior Policy Counsel for the U.S. Green Building Council[6], noted, “We have an opportunity to pivot in how we construct and operate buildings, to create spaces that are low-carbon, resilient and support health—goals that USGBC has been advancing with our LEED program for over two decades.”
Even with everything going on in the nation affecting our economy, these two Congressional acts are worth noting and paying attention to in the coming months.
Source URL: https://www.metalarchitecture.com/blog/federal-architecture-and-climate-change/
Copyright ©2025 Metal Architecture unless otherwise noted.