Many of the historic buildings under the Architect of the Capitol’s (AOC) care were constructed before the establishment of current accessibility standards and require upgrades to provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.

While in some cases the original construction of the buildings or historical considerations render accessibility upgrades extremely difficult or impossible, the AOC is committed to addressing accessibility issues where possible so that all who work on or visit the Capitol campus have equal access to the facilities and spaces.

In addition to accessibility specific projects, major renovation projects provide opportunities to reconfigure infrastructure with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant features while also considering the historical character of the facility. For example, the Cannon Renewal included constructing ADA-accessible building entrances, widening doorways, adding family restrooms, installing accessible drinking fountains and adding elevators.

Fiscal Year 2025

Campuswide accessibility improvements addressed 1,986 barriers identified by the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights (OCWR). Efforts included infrastructure upgrades, ADA compliant walkways and entrances, enhanced signage, and digital wayfinding installations. Design documents were completed for Phase II of the Capitol Square ADA Barriers Remediation project, incorporating lessons from Phase I to address remaining gaps. This effort marked a critical milestone in advancing accessibility across one of the campus's most historic and heavily used areas. A collaborative redesign led by the Capitol Visitor Center produced a new, user-friendly campus accessibility map, consolidating outdated versions into a unified resource. Additional improvements included 24-hour accessible entrances, interior mobility enhancements such as ramps and handrails, and in-house captioning capabilities to enhance access to public programs and events.

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The finished SR-253 hearing room, with the ceiling and plaster reliefs repainted to appear like carved stone, which is truer to the architects' original intention.
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The Senate Office Buildings jurisdiction recently completed a project to restore the hearing room for the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (SR-253) in the Russell Senate Office Building.
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Capitol Reflections: ADA and the Visitor Experience

Accessibility was a key component of the design of the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center, and we are proud to welcome visitors from all over the world. The AOC works to continually improve access to all, while maintaining and preserving the historic fabric and character of the campus.
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Teaming Up for Accessibility

See how a team of tradecrafts experts at the Architect of the Capitol transform an office in the Cannon House Office Building into a completely wheelchair-accessible suite in less than four weeks. The condensed timeframe required precise planning and coordination efforts.

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