House Office Moves: Suite Stakes

Before the buzz of swearing-in ceremonies and inaugural celebrations, Members and their staff identify the office spaces where they'll work during their term. Once there's a firm count of Members who will be departing due to retirement, resignation or election loss, a select number of House offices across three buildings, Cannon, Longworth and Rayburn, are available for selection by incumbent Members. Much like other sought-after real estate, there's high demand for offices with the best views, biggest windows and most floor space. Those closest to the Capitol, and those formerly occupied by historic and note-worthy Members — or sometimes, even family members — are also coveted.

In the weeks between the general election in November and the start of the new Congress in January, the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) House Office Buildings (HOB) partners with the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to meet with Members and their staff. Together, the teams review and update floor plans before the lotteries begin.

The Lottery

The stakes aren't as high as they are in the famous short story "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson or a big jackpot, but the lottery still inspires a lot of jitters for returning and new Members. Incumbent Members are ranked by seniority and can choose new offices first. They are separated by congressional class and pull numbers over a five-day lottery. Freshman Members then select an office from those remaining during a similar single-day lottery in which a randomized selection order determines who gets to pull the first number out of a wooden box. In 2024, Joe Yates, Executive Director of Facilities Operations, HOB, and Kornell Rancy, Deputy Executive Director of Facilities Operations, HOB, led the spirited events. As each Member's number was read aloud, the room erupted in groans of commiseration or cheers and high-fives.

AOC team members carefully preside over the office lottery process, ensuring each available office space is reflected in the pool; Shiny office keys await new Members and their staff; The chip selected moments before by a Member who will choose fourth.

In the months leading up to the general election, the AOC determines a location for the lottery, runs the numbers to calculate Member seniority, and updates the suite selection website (which allows Members to browse available suites through 360-degree tours and can be filtered by amenities and building features).

Clearly, much has been digitized; the current lottery system is a modernized version of a very historic tradition. The House Suite Selection process began in 1908, when the 60th Congress gathered as a page plucked names and numbers from a box. The Members then examined floor plans pinned to blackboards and chose their offices. Ever since, every Member has received an office — which is more than earlier Congresses could say. Before the construction of the Cannon House Office Building was completed in 1908, Members worked from their desks in the House Chamber of the Capitol Building.

With the construction and opening of new office buildings across campus, the moves process evolved to its current status as a well-oiled machine. Dubbed a "move chain," it's a sequence of steps set in motion when a suite is vacated and then selected by an incumbent Member or a Member-Elect. A move chain begins when a departing Member moves from their suite and ends when a Member-Elect's office is set up. When it's time to move a Member, the HOB team experiences its fair share of nerves, too. Before a single box can be moved, there's a checklist of tasks to complete.

Trading Spaces

Once the lottery is finished, the AOC and House CAO jointly assign a two-person Move Coordinator (MC) team — one from the AOC and one from the House CAO — for each returning Member move and all new Member office setups.

The AOC MC team member functions as a liaison between a Member office and any pertinent AOC responsibilities (e.g., carpentry, locksmithing, waste management, electrical work, paint). Folks like project managers, engineers and architects come from their typical HOB duties to become MCs. They act as seasonal specialists and return to their normal job duties once the moves are complete.

A Member office functions as a home on Capitol Hill, so it's common for Congress to bring mementos from their states and districts. Gamal Traore delivers packed boxes of personal belongings; Henry Torres and Maurice Foxx keep a flow of boxes moving.

Brian Bradley, a Facilities Operations Specialist, worked as a Senior Move Coordinator throughout this most recent transition. "One of the greatest sources of motivation for me during a transition has been the knowledge that all of us have committed to working tirelessly, side by side, to ensure a smooth and successful transition," Bradley said. "The months of preparation and training have prepared us well for the demanding schedule of six days a week and 10-to-12-hour workdays, for weeks on end."

Bradley and other MCs partner with Field Coordinators to ensure hands-on involvement at every step of the process. The moves schedule is highly choreographed to ensure multiple move crews aren't trying to use the same elevators or hallways. Painting can't begin until everything is out. Plumbing and HVAC need to be inspected to ensure repairs won't interrupt the move-in.

Each turnover comes with its own set of challenges (especially with ongoing renovations like the Cannon Renewal project), and Kendra Powell, an HOB Building Inspector who served as a Field Coordinator during the moves, says the key to success is communicating well.

"Given the diverse range of individuals involved during the moves — each with their own personalities, characteristics and generational perspectives — it's very important to adapt or tailor how we communicate to ensure the information given is understood clearly," Powell said. "I would rather over-communicate than under-communicate."

Image Curtis Amburgey replaced a steam radiator isolation valve in the Longworth House Office Building.

Image Electrician Norman Ardis Trinidad ensures power strips and outlets are fitted seamlessly into office carpeting.

The work involves carpenters, plumbers, electricians, heating and cooling technicians, painters, plasterers, locksmiths, masons, laborers and custodial workers. Everyone has a job — or two — to do. HOB's Kristen Frederick, who oversees House committee and Member transitions, described each as a staggering amount of work.

"The AOC's involvement in the House Transition is truly a team effort — it encompasses nearly every member of the HOB jurisdiction and requires vast amounts of institutional knowledge, coordination with other House support agencies, and continual engagement with Members and staff," Frederick said. "While the work is physically exhausting, it's also satisfying to know that we played a role in ensuring that a new Congress is ready to begin working for the American people on day one."

In a grueling few weeks, the AOC's participation in the Congressional Transition ensures fair, coordinated and organized moves at one of the busiest and most exciting times on Capitol Hill. Together, HOB and House CAO completed 127 House moves for returning Members and 65 new Member office setups after the 2024 election.

"It's truly inspiring to witness how everyone is dedicated to their roles and comes together to make sure that everything runs smoothly," Bradley said. "The unity and teamwork displayed as we prepare for the new Congress to take office is a testament to our collective commitment to service and excellence."

Even when the last Members are settled into their spaces, the next cycle isn't too far away. Planning and preparations for the 120th Congressional Transition are already underway.

"I honestly look forward to the moves every other year," Powell remarked. "They're an opportunity to work and connect with different people and share their excitement – this is an experience they'll never forget."