One of the flurry of executive orders President Trump issued in his first week in office instructed the General Services Administration (GSA) to submit design recommendations within 60 days to include specifications that “respect regional, traditional, and classical architectural heritage in order to uplift and beautify public spaces and ennoble the United States and our system of self-government.”
The American Institute of Architects issued a statement denouncing Trump’s executive order. “AIA is extremely concerned about any revisions that remove control from local communities; mandate official federal design preferences, or otherwise hinder design freedom; and add bureaucratic hurdles for federal buildings.”
The statement continues: “AIA supports the GSA’s Guiding Principles, and we support freedom in design. AIA’s members believe the design of federal buildings must first be responsive to the people and communities who will use those buildings.”
According to Architectural Record, the executive order also countermands several GSA programs to advance and promote creativity in government building design, including a program called the Design Excellence Program.
The new executive order marks the second time Trump has tried to revert federal design to classical architecture. In December 2020, he issued a similar executive order, which President Biden cancelled on his first day in office, according to NPR.
Greg Zimmerman is senior contributing editor for FacilitiesNet.com and Building Operating Management magazine.
