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Tulips and bronze fountains.

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Sustainability at the AOC

By Sarah Davis
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The Architect of the Capitol's commitment to sustainability is demonstrated through our robust energy conservation and sustainability programs. The agency incorporates sustainable design and construction practices into the major projects executed throughout Capitol Hill.
Floor tile at the Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building.
Behind the Scenes

Article

The Art of Walking Across History

By Cristin O'Brien
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Whether you work on Capitol Hill, are a regular visitor or you are planning to visit for the first time, remember to stay mindful of your surroundings.
Mario Murgueitio and Ron Pfeiffer, both Pipefitters with Capitol Grounds, demonstrate how to use a mulch blower attachment to fill silt socks with mulch.
Behind the Scenes

Article

Mulch Blower Extraordinaire

By Cristin O'Brien
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On a sunny morning, employees from Capitol Grounds and Arboretum gathered to see a demonstration of a new tool and hear about its benefits.
A/C Equipment Mechanic Horatio Evans tests for signal across two wires with a digital multimeter while troubleshooting air handling unit controls.
Behind the Scenes

Article

Retro-Commissioning: Big Energy Savings For Big Buildings

By AOC Staff
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The Architect of the Capitol's (AOC) commitment to energy conservation and sustainability has resulted in a reduction of energy use by almost 50 percent across the Capitol campus since 2003. The agency continues to look for ways to build on those efforts as it works toward achieving reductions
"Across the agency, our team of exceptional professionals is working tirelessly to upgrade our capabilities and facilities. To achieve our mission, we need adequate resources to meet the technological, space, sustainability and accessibility needs of a 21st-century workforce." - Architect of the Capitol J. Brett Blanton
Public Notice

Article

AOC Makes FY 2023 Budget Request to Senate Committee

By AOC Staff
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Architect of the Capitol J. Brett Blanton testified May 11 in front of the Subcommittee on Legislative Branch, Committee on Appropriations, United States Senate.
40th Annual Police Officers Memorial, 2021.
Behind the Scenes

Article

Honoring Service, Sacrifice and a Unique Partnership

By AOC Staff
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For the Architect of the Capitol's Office of the Chief Security Officer (OSCO), keeping the U.S. Capitol campus safe is job one. And it is also a team effort – one that could not happen without the dedication and professionalism of the United States Capitol Police (USCP). This week, during the
Grace Anderson adjusts the camera and laptop for an online horticultural education program.
Behind the Scenes

Article

U.S. Botanic Garden Taps New Technologies To Grow Plant Education

By Devin Dotson
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Like other parts of the education world in March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic-forced closure of the United States Botanic Garden (USBG) significantly impacted the USBG Learning and Engagement team. Much of their work consisted of connecting people with plants through hundreds of in-person educational
Portraits of Valerie Hasberry, Mark Reed and James Kaufmann.
Public Notice

Article

AOC Staff Named as Finalists for Service to America Medal

By AOC Staff
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The "Sammies" are the premier awards program honoring excellence and innovation in federal service.
Public Notice

Article

Tree Dedicated for the People of New Hampshire

By AOC Staff
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This morning the New Hampshire Congressional Delegation gathered on the U.S. Capitol Grounds to dedicate a tree in honor of the people of New Hampshire.
"Project funding will support the lifespan of [campus] facilities as well as address critical needs ranging from preserving priceless artwork to replacing roofs, installing emergency generators and improving campus security." - Architect of the Capitol J. Brett Blanton
Public Notice

Article

AOC Makes FY 2023 Budget Request to House Committee

By AOC Staff
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Architect of the Capitol J. Brett Blanton testified April 27 in front of the Subcommittee on Legislative Branch, Committee on Appropriations, United States House of Representatives.
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Public Notice

Article

AOC Celebrates Grant Memorial Anniversary

By AOC Staff
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Architect of the Capitol J. Brett Blanton joined the U.S. Capitol Historical Society to celebrate the 200th birthday of Ulysses S. Grant and the 100th anniversary of the dedication of the Grant Memorial.
Some of the first visitors back in the USBG Conservatory after it reopened.
Public Notice

Article

U.S. Botanic Garden Reopens to Visitors

By AOC Staff
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The United States Botanic Garden (USBG) Conservatory reopened to the public today, April 1, marking a full reopening of all areas of the USBG.
View of a walkway and benches on the U.S. Capitol Grounds.
History & Discoveries

Article

Top 5 Spots to Enjoy Spring on the Capitol Campus

By AOC Staff
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Spring in Washington, D.C., is one of the most beautiful times to visit the nation's capital. Learn about five beautiful, and less known spots, to enjoy the warm weather near the U.S. Capitol.
View of a pagoda tree on the north side of the U.S. Capitol.
Public Notice

Article

Living On, The Olmsted Way

By AOC Staff
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Two original Olmsted trees will be removed for safety reasons this spring.
Portrait of Architect of the Capitol employee Arthur Logan.
Behind the Scenes

Article

The Path to Becoming an Architect

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Arthur Logan was working as an electrician helper in 2005 when a coworker told him, "You're in the wrong field. You need to be an architect."
USBG Arborist Shaun Abell, who helped install the new, higher fogger system, at the top of the Tropics house.
Projects

Article

Employees Lead U.S. Botanic Garden Horticultural Renovations

By Devin Dotson
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Several USBG employees recently led projects inside the Conservatory to improve the growing spaces and showcase more of the permanent plant collection.
Photograph of Milton Lee Dennis.
Doing Good

Article

Surviving to Thriving

By Erin Courtney
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Having a purpose, even amid profound grief, often sustains people who have experienced unspeakable losses. One AOC employee has found such a purpose, and with it hope and a drive to help others struggling with mental health challenges.
A balustrade at the Russell Senate Office Building.
Projects

Article

Covering the Home Team

By Justin Kieffer
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The amount of talent needed for all the projects around the Capitol campus is high, and fortunately the AOC boasts a deep bench of employees.
View of the U.S. Capitol from the West.
Public Notice

Article

U.S. Capitol Grounds Recognized as Level III Arboretum

By AOC Staff
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The U.S. Capitol Grounds has successfully "branched out" as a significant arboretum — its accreditation was recently increased from Level II to Level III by ArbNet.
View of a room inside a building.

Basic page

State of the Union Address

By Sarah Davis
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The Architect of the Capitol (AOC) works behind the scenes to ensure that everything is impeccable for this important event — even the smallest details, like monitoring the temperature to ensure it's comfortable for the hundreds of members, staff and visitors who fill the House Chamber.
The Summerhouse, obscured by the plants, vines and trees of Olmsted's original design, blends into the landscape.
History & Discoveries

Article

Olmsted's Never-Built Retreat

By Franklin Bradley
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Before it was cut from the budget, Olmsted had begun designing a south summerhouse; his sketches for it have been rediscovered.
An Architect of the Capitol street sweeper cleans up in Washington, D.C.
History & Discoveries

Article

The Architect of the Capitol Sweeps Up the Past

By Morgan Green
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When Jim Kaufmann, Capitol Grounds and Arboretum Director, happened across an 1891 street-sweeping map while going through cultural landscape reports, he had no idea how simple an old map could make caring for the U.S. Capitol Grounds.
The team found and collected seeds from the rare Glen Rose yucca (Yucca necopina), native only in a few counties in Texas.
Behind the Scenes

Article

Collecting and Growing Texas Native Plants for Conservation and Climate Change Adaptation

By Devin Dotson
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Throughout 2020 while the United States Botanic Garden was closed to the public, the Horticulture team continued stewarding its plant collection. Several Horticulture team members were paying special attention to a new batch of plants grown from seeds harvested during a plant-collecting trip to
Stone preservation on the U.S. Capitol.
Projects

Article

At the AOC, It's Always Home Improvement Time

By Justin Kieffer
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While most people have one structure to take care of, the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) is hard at work on multiple projects to care for the buildings across Capitol Hill.
AGA Certificate of Excellence in Accountability Reporting
Public Notice

Article

A Decade of Excellence – AOC Receives Award for 10th Year in a Row

By AOC Staff
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For the tenth consecutive year, the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) received the Association of Government Accountants' (AGA) prestigious Certificate of Excellence in Accountability Reporting (CEAR) for its Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 Performance and Accountability Report (PAR).

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Quick Links

By Sarah Davis
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Recently mentioned links on Architect of the Capitol (AOC) social media posts.
Tholos Magazine, Volume 18, Special Edition.
Public Notice

Article

Special Issue of Tholos Magazine Now Available

By AOC Staff
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A new special edition of the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) employee magazine, Tholos, is now available.
A member of the Capitol Grounds and Arboretum team at work in the park above the House office buildings garage.
Behind the Scenes

Article

New Pesticide Recertification Program

By Kate Holder
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Recertifications during the COVID-19 pandemic required a new approach.
Map illustration of John Adam's route: 1. Philadelphia 2. Downingtown 3. Lancaster 4. York 5. Frederick 6. Rockville 7. Georgetown *. Final Destination: Washington, D.C.
History & Discoveries

Article

John Adams' Carriage Ride to Washington, D.C., in 1800

By Franklin Bradley
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President John Adams issued a letter to all federal agencies on May 15, 1800, directing the "removal of the public offices, clerks and papers" from the capital city of Philadelphia. In that single sentence, Adams started the final move of the U.S. government to its permanent home, the newly created
One of the four Olmsted lanterns on the west side of the U.S. Capitol Grounds, restored in 2020.
Projects

Article

Olmsted Lanterns Restoration

By Kate Holder
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The large bronze and glass lanterns are mounted on stately sandstone piers with intricately carved sandstone caps.