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The Architect of the Capitol (AOC) is responsible to the United States Congress for the maintenance, operation, development, and preservation of the United States Capitol Complex, which includes the Capitol, the congressional office buildings, the Library of Congress buildings, the United States Supreme Court building, the United States Botanic Garden, the Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary Building, the Capitol Power Plant, and other facilities. The Congressional office buildings include the Russell Senate Office Building, the Dirksen Senate Office Building, the Hart Senate Office Building, the Cannon House Office Building, the Longworth House Office Building, the Rayburn House Office Building, and the Ford House Office Building as well as the dormitories and schools for the Senate pages and U.S. House pages.
The Architect of the Capitol is one of three members of both the Capitol Police Board, which has jurisdiction over the U.S. Capitol Police, and the Capitol Guide Board, which has jurisdiction over the United States Capitol Guide Service. The other members of both boards are the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms and House Sergeant-at-Arms.
Until 1989 the position of Architect of the Capitol was filled by appointment from the President of the United States for an indefinite term. Legislation enacted in 1989 provides that the Architect is to be appointed for a term of ten years by the President, with the advice and consent of the United States Senate, from a list of three candidates recommended by a congressional commission. Upon confirmation by the Senate, the Architect becomes an official of the Legislative Branch as an officer and agent of Congress; he is eligible for reappointment after completion of his term.
The current acting Architect of the Capitol is Stephen T. Ayers.
List of Architects of the Capitol
This is a complete list of Architects of the Capitol:
| Architect of the Capitol | Term of Office | Deputy Architect | Assistant Architect | Appointing President | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| William Thornton | 1793 | n/a | Washington | Washington selected Thornton's original design for the U.S. Capitol. | |
| Benjamin Latrobe | March 6, 1803 – July 1, 1811 April 6, 1815 – |
n/a | Jefferson |
Latrobe was appointed twice. President Jefferson appointed him to take over work on the building in 1803 and construction was halted in 1811. During the War of 1812, the Capitol was burned by British troops, prompting President Madison to reappoint Latrobe as Architect of the Capitol and conduct repairs. | |
| Charles Bulfinch | January 8, 1818 – June 25, 1829 |
n/a | Monroe | ||
| Thomas U. Walter (Engineer-in-charge: Montgomery C. Meigs) |
June 11, 1851 – May 26, 1865 |
n/a | Edward Clark | Fillmore | Walter and Meigs shared responsibility for the Capitol and the construction of its additions. |
| Edward Clark | August 30, 1865 – January 6, 1902 |
n/a | Elliot Woods | A Johnson | |
| Elliot Woods | February 19, 1902 – May 22, 1923 |
n/a | T Roosevelt | ||
| David Lynn | August 22, 1923 – September 30, 1954 |
n/a |
|
Coolidge | |
| J. George Stewart | October 1, 1954 – May 24, 1970 |
n/a |
|
Eisenhower | |
| George M. White, FAIA | January 27, 1971 – November 21, 1995 |
n/a |
|
Nixon | Ensign acted as Architect after White's retirement until a replacement was appointed |
| Alan M. Hantman, FAIA | January 6, 1997 – February 2, 2007 |
Stephen T. Ayers, AIA
|
Michael G. Turnbull, FAIA
(June 1998-present) |
Clinton | Hantman was the first Architect of the Capitol appointed under the legislation passed in 1989 providing for a fixed, renewable ten-year term for the Architects of the Capitol. On August 1, 2006, Hantman announced he would not seek a second term when his term expired in 2007. |
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