President Obama plans to nominate Stephen T. Ayers as Architect of the Capitol. Ayers has served as Acting Architect, heading up the 2,600-person Office of the Architect of the Capitol (AOC), since February 2007.
Under Ayers’ leadership, the Office of the Architect of the Capitol provided vital support for the 56th Presidential Inaugural ceremony in January 2009, construction was completed on the 415,000-square-foot National Audio Visual Conservation Center and Library of Congress Book Storage Modules 3 and 4 at Fort Meade; adding another 76,400 square feet to the AOC’s facilities inventory, and construction on the Capitol Visitor Center was completed and its doors were opened to the public on Dec. 2, 2008.
He has implemented innovative tools and programs to make the AOC more effective in its ability to serve Congress and the American people, including strengthening its Strategic Plan. At a time when fiscal restraint is necessary, Ayers has worked with Congress to prioritize the deferred maintenance and capital renewal work needed to protect and preserve the Capitol and other historic buildings, and to ensure that the proper re-investment is made in our nation’s heritage assets.
Under Ayers’ leadership, the work of AOC staff has been recognized with the receipt of numerous industry awards, including several awards from the Washington Building Congress, Associated Builders and Contractors, and the Construction Management Association of America.
Over the past 3 years the AOC has reduced carbon emissions, improved energy efficiency, and implemented sustainable design practices throughout the Capitol complex. Due to these efforts, Congress reduced its energy consumption by 10.7 percent in FY08 over the FY03 baseline.
The AOC is responsible for the facilities maintenance and operation of the historic Capitol Building, the care and improvement of more than 450 acres of Capitol grounds, and the operation and maintenance of 16.5 million square feet of buildings including: the House and Senate Congressional Office Buildings, the Capitol Visitor Center, the Library of Congress Buildings, the U.S. Supreme Court Building, the Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary Building, U.S. Botanic Garden, and other facilities.
