H.R. 5194 — Beautifying Federal Civic Architecture Act of 2025

This section establishes the policy of the United States regarding applicable Federal public buildings, including that such buildings should (1) uplift and beautify public spaces, inspire the human spirit, ennoble the United States, command public respect, be visually identifiable as civic buildings, and respect regional architectural heritage as appropriate; (2) have designs selected with substantial local community input; and (3) prefer traditional and classical architecture that meets those criteria. It further states that (4) in the District of Columbia, classical architecture is the preferred and default style absent exceptional factors; (5) any divergence from the criteria requires a design that commands public respect and conveys the dignity, enterprise, vigor, and stability of U.S. self-government; and (6)-(7) renovations, reductions, or expansions of noncompliant buildings must examine the feasibility and expense of redesigning to meet the criteria—with substantial consideration given to feasible and economical redesigns, especially for exteriors.

This section establishes definitions for 12 terms used in the Act. Among the definitions are standard terms such as "Administration" (i.e., General Services Administration), "Administrator" (i.e., Administrator of General Services), "officer" (as defined in 5 U.S.C. 2104), "public building" (as defined in 40 U.S.C. 3301(a)), and "preferred architecture" (i.e., the architecture described in section 2(3)); and "2025 dollars" (i.e., dollars adjusted for inflation using the Bureau of Economic Analysis Gross Domestic Product price deflator, with 2025 as the base year). It defines "applicable Federal public building" as (1) any Federal courthouse; (2) any Federal agency headquarters; (3) any public building in the National Capital region (as defined in 40 U.S.C. 8702); or (4) any other public building with a cost or expected cost to design, build, and finish exceeding $50 million in 2025 dollars (excluding infrastructure projects and land ports of entry). It defines architectural styles, including "Brutalist architecture" (i.e., early 20th-century modernist style characterized by massive, block-like appearance, rigid geometry, and large-scale exposed poured concrete); "classical architecture" (i.e., tradition derived from Greek and Roman antiquity and expanded by Renaissance, Enlightenment, 19th-century, and 20th-century architects, including Neoclassical, Georgian, Federal, Greek Revival, Beaux-Arts, and Art Deco styles); "deconstructivist architecture" (i.e., late-1980s style featuring fragmentation, disorder, discontinuity, distortion, skewed geometry, and instability); and "traditional architecture" (i.e., classical architecture and historic humanistic styles, including Gothic, Romanesque, Second Empire, Pueblo Revival, Spanish Colonial, and other regionally rooted styles). It defines "general public" as members of the public excluding artists, architects, engineers, art or architecture critics, instructors or professors of art or architecture, building industry members, and those affiliated with interest groups, trade associations, or organizations financially affected by public building design, construction, or remodeling decisions.

This section establishes three guiding principles for federal architecture that all federal agencies must adhere to, to the maximum extent practicable, in designing applicable federal public buildings. (1) Preferred architectural style requires classical architecture and traditional architecture as the default, reflecting the dignity, enterprise, vigor, and stability of the federal government while allowing alternatives in appropriate circumstances; agencies must emphasize architectural excellence, incorporate regional traditions, fine art by living American artists where appropriate, sound construction practices, and economical, accessible buildings. (2) Flow of design requires designs to derive from federal government needs and public aspirations rather than architect preferences; agencies must avoid excessive uniformity (including by paying additional costs), hold design competitions where appropriate, and consult distinguished architects experienced in classical or traditional architecture before awarding major contracts. (3) Building sites requires site selection and development as the first design step, in cooperation with state and local agencies, with attention to surrounding streets and public places and provision for generous landscape development where possible.

This section directs the General Services Administration (GSA) Administrator to adhere to the bill's policy favoring classical and traditional architecture (as described in section 2) for applicable Federal public buildings, expeditiously update GSA policies and procedures accordingly, and implement the following requirements: (1) ensure GSA-employed architects reviewing or approving designs have formal training or substantial experience in classical or traditional architecture; (2) establish a Senior Advisor for Architectural Design position filled by an individual with specialized experience in those styles to assist with procedures, advise on standards, and guide design evaluations; (3) in two-phase design-build competitions under 41 U.S.C. §3309, list experience with classical or traditional architecture as specialized experience and technical competence in phase-one solicitations and give it substantial weight when selecting phase-two offerors; and (4) incorporate advancing the bill's purposes as a critical performance element for the Chief Architect and relevant Public Buildings Service employees. The section further requires GSA, in design competitions, to actively recruit architectural firms (including those experienced in classical or traditional architecture) and, to the maximum extent practicable, advance multiple design modes to the final evaluation round. Additionally, for proposed designs diverging from preferred architecture (including Brutalist or Deconstructivist styles), the section requires GSA to notify the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy at least 30 days before approval (or incurring substantial expenditures), including justifications, expected lifecycle costs, and cost details for seriously considered preferred-architecture alternatives.

This section provides standard general provisions, including (1) a savings clause preserving existing authorities of executive departments and agencies and functions of the Office of Management and Budget; (2) a requirement to implement the Act consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations; and (3) a statement that the Act creates no enforceable rights or benefits, substantive or procedural, against the United States, its departments, agencies, entities, officers, employees, agents, or any other person.

This section directs the Administrator to submit an annual report to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability detailing the implementation of this Act, including adherence to the U.S. policy described in section 2 and the Guiding Principles.