Areas of Expertise

AOC employs more than two dozen architects who work in different divisions across the agency with various roles and responsibilities. Some architects have the position of project manager, but the act of managing a project is a distinct skill for which they are trained independently of their professional background.

Across Capitol Hill, AOC electricians are responsible for thousands of miles of wiring and more than 100,000 light fixtures.

AOC employs engineers focused in many different disciplines, including: mechanical, fire protection, electrical, civil, safety, plumbing, elevator, environmental and electronics.

AOC gardeners care for the grounds of the Capitol Building, the Congressional Office Buildings, the U.S. Supreme Court, the Library of Congress and the U.S. Botanic Garden. More than 90 acres of turf-grass and over 30 acres in landscape beds are under the AOC's care across Capitol Hill.

Historic preservation on one level is understanding and appreciating history and what it teaches us about ourselves. However, preservation also means taking action.

The hands-on work caring for the stone found across Capitol Hill falls to AOC masons. These masons perform decorative brick, granite, marble and stone work including repairing stone and brick joints by cutting, raking, cleaning, and repointing with mortar and caulking compound. They also take care to mix color tone mortar to match the aging condition of work.

AOC maintenance mechanics work around the clock to ensure the facilities are always performing to the best of their ability, supporting the building occupants and visitors. They provide continual care of more than 17.5 million square feet of office space in more than 30 buildings.

The men and women who comprise the AOC painting craft are master illusionists and AOC's teams of plasterers ensure the unique historic fabric of the buildings on Capitol Hill is preserved while the modern needs of Congress are served.

AOC is responsible for thousands of miles of pipes across Capitol Hill. This includes a wide variety of piping including drinking water, sewage, irrigation, HVAC (heating, ventilating and air conditioning), drainage and many others.

AOC sheet metal teams fabricate, preserve and restore anything metal across Capitol Hill.

For many visitors, a trip to Washington, D.C. is a once in a lifetime event. The staff of the Architect of the Capitol (including the Capitol Visitor Center and U.S. Botanic Garden) plays an important role in those visits.

The care and creation of the woodwork throughout the Congress and Supreme Court is the responsibility of AOC woodcrafters.