Appointed January 27, 1971; Retired November 21, 1995.

George M. White, FAIA, was appointed Architect of the Capitol in 1971. He was the last person to be appointed without the advice and consent of the United States Senate to a term of unspecified duration.

As Architect of the Capitol, White created the Master Plan for the future development of the Capitol complex. He oversaw construction of the Library of Congress James Madison Memorial Building, the Hart Senate Office Building, the Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary Building and the U.S. Capitol terrace infill areas.

His accomplishments included the restoration of the Old Supreme Court Chamber and Old Senate Chamber, the partial restoration of National Statuary Hall, the restoration of the U.S. Capitol Building's west central front, and the interior restoration and renovation of the Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building and John Adams Building. His conservation efforts included the U.S. Capitol Rotunda canopy and frieze and the Statue of Freedom. In the congressional office buildings he improved electrical, electronic, fire-protection and transportation systems.

Other work included the expansion of the Capitol Power Plant and planning and design for the National Garden, to be located adjacent to the U.S. Botanic Garden Conservatory, and for the Capitol Visitor Center. He is also credited with modernizing the Architect of the Capitol's office and hiring a more professional staff.

The son of an architect, White was born in Cleveland, Ohio on November 1, 1920. He received two engineering degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a business degree from Harvard and a law degree from Case Western Reserve University. At the time of his appointment White was a Vice President of the American Institute of Architects. He retired from office in 1995 and died in 2011.

In the period between White's retirement and the appointment of a new Architect of the Capitol, William L. Ensign, FAIA, the former Assistant Architect of the Capitol, served as the acting Architect of the Capitol.

Related Places

White's Legacy

Each Architect of the Capitol helped shape the iconic buildings and grounds we know today.

Exterior view of a building.

James Madison Memorial Building

The Madison Building is an unusual combination of a national shrine contained in a working building serving both as the Library's third major structure and as this nation's official memorial to President James Madison.
The Hart Senate Office Building

Hart Senate Office Building

The Philip A. Hart Senate Office Building is the third and newest office structure designed and built to serve the United States Senate.

Capitol Power Plant

The Capitol Power Plant provides steam and chilled water used to heat and cool buildings throughout the U.S. Capitol campus.
Walkway in National Garden

Outdoor Gardens

Adjacent to the U.S. Botanic Garden Conservatory with entrances from Independence Avenue, Maryland Avenue (at 3rd street) and from the Conservatory Terrace.
Crowd in a room.

U.S. Capitol Visitor Center

The U.S. Capitol Visitor Center is the newest addition to the historic Capitol Complex. At nearly 580,000 square feet, the Visitor Center is the largest project in the Capitol's more than two-century history and is approximately three-quarters the size of the Capitol itself.