The Architect of the Capitol (AOC) manages the office moves process for Members of Congress. On the Senate side of campus, that work falls under the Senate Office Buildings jurisdiction. It manages the suite selection process, suite designs and renovations as well as the move process for senators who select new offices and newly elected senators.
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The selection process is based on seniority. As senators make suite selections, AOC staff are assigned to specific Senate moves, serving as move coordinators to oversee the process.
Every shop within the Senate Office Buildings is involved in the congressional moves, which ensures that all senators have an office set up to meet the needs of their constituents. The large effort also requires support from other AOC jurisdictions and offices, including the Office of the Chief Engineer, Construction Execution Branch, Information Technology Division, and the Photography and Technical Imaging Branch.
This significant undertaking requires close collaboration, constant communication and the ability to coordinate dozens of details from one move to the next — all while managing the shops' regular day-to-day responsibilities.
Learn more below about the process and shops involved that make moves possible after each congressional election cycle.
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Who
Every shop within the Senate Office Buildings jurisdiction is involved in the congressional moves process.
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What
The Senate Office Buildings jurisdiction manages the congressional moves process for senators from beginning to end, including suite selection, designs and renovations.
When
Every two years following an election, suite selection occurs over three months beginning in late November.
Where
The Senate Office Buildings jurisdiction is responsible for overseeing moves in all three Senate office buildings.
Dirksen Senate Office Building
Design features of the Dirksen Building reflected modern developments, including an auditorium with modifications for television, a telephone exchange system and a fluorescent lighting system.
Despite mixed architectural reviews, the contemporary design of the Hart Building made strides in planning, circulation, and adaptability, reinventing and redefining the congressional office building.
Russell Senate Office Building
A modern building for its time, the Russell Building boasted such amenities as a forced-air ventilation system, steam heat, individual lavatories with hot and cold running water, telephones in every office, and electricity on many circuits.