First Nail Ceremony Commences Inauguration Construction

Every four years, the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) is responsible for constructing the inaugural platform on the U.S. Capitol Building's West Front and coordinates activities with the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC).

During today's ceremony, Architect of the Capitol Thomas E. Austin, JCCIC Chairwoman Amy Klobuchar, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, Senator Deb Fisher, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries drove in the first nails at the site of the future platform, kicking off its construction.

Austin opened the event by saying, "Almost every skill represented at the Architect of the Capitol has a role in each inauguration: teams of carpenters, woodcrafters, plumbers, electricians, painters, masons, upholsterers, flooring specialists, custodians, grounds keepers, arborists, tour guides, engineers, project managers and budget staff to name just a few. I feel privileged to serve alongside these hard-working and talented teams."

The AOC has supported presidential inaugurations for more than 150 years. We are proud to once again be part of this historic event.

For more information on the 2025 inaugural events, please visit www.inaugural.senate.gov.