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In 1754 the British government asked colonial representatives to meet in Albany, New York, to develop a treaty with Native Americans and plan the defense of the colonies against France. Exceeding these limited objectives, the assembly adopted a plan developed by Benjamin Franklin for government of
Doing Good
Article
Having a purpose, even amid profound grief, often sustains people who have experienced unspeakable losses. One AOC employee has found such a purpose, and with it hope and a drive to help others struggling with mental health challenges.
Highlight
The Mayflower Compact, a document signed aboard the ship Mayflower in 1620, set forth principles of tolerance and liberty for the government of a new colony in the New World. Pilgrim leader William Brewster is shown signing the document; John Standish, the colony's military leader, stands at left
Projects
Article
The amount of talent needed for all the projects around the Capitol campus is high, and fortunately the AOC boasts a deep bench of employees.
Public Notice
Article
The U.S. Capitol Grounds has successfully "branched out" as a significant arboretum — its accreditation was recently increased from Level II to Level III by ArbNet.
Public Notice
Article
The latest edition of the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) employee magazine, Tholos, is now available. Articles include a feature on U.S. Botanic Garden horticultural renovations, an employee highlight on becoming an architect, project updates and more.
Basic page
The Architect of the Capitol (AOC) works behind the scenes to ensure that everything is impeccable for this important event — even the smallest details, like monitoring the temperature to ensure it's comfortable for the hundreds of members, staff and visitors who fill the House Chamber.
History & Discoveries
Article
Before it was cut from the budget, Olmsted had begun designing a south summerhouse; his sketches for it have been rediscovered.
Public Notice
Article
The latest edition of the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) employee magazine, Tholos, is now available. Articles include a feature on Frederick Law Olmsted’s never-built retreat, an employee highlight on interning during COVID, a spotlight on the agency's sustainability efforts and more.
History & Discoveries
Article
When Jim Kaufmann, Capitol Grounds and Arboretum Director, happened across an 1891 street-sweeping map while going through cultural landscape reports, he had no idea how simple an old map could make caring for the U.S. Capitol Grounds.
Behind the Scenes
Article
Throughout 2020 while the United States Botanic Garden was closed to the public, the Horticulture team continued stewarding its plant collection. Several Horticulture team members were paying special attention to a new batch of plants grown from seeds harvested during a plant-collecting trip to
Projects
Article
While most people have one structure to take care of, the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) is hard at work on multiple projects to care for the buildings across Capitol Hill.
Public Notice
Article
The latest edition of the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) employee magazine, Tholos, is now available. Article themes include Cool Tools, Organizational Transformation, Seasonal Highlight, Doing Good, Project Updates, and Spotlight on Safety.
Person
Joseph R. DiPietro is the Chief of Operations and Acting Architect of the Capitol. As Acting Architect, he leads the agency's mission to preserve and maintain the historic buildings and grounds across the Capitol campus.
Public Notice
Article
For the tenth consecutive year, the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) received the Association of Government Accountants' (AGA) prestigious Certificate of Excellence in Accountability Reporting (CEAR) for its Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 Performance and Accountability Report (PAR).
Basic page
Recently mentioned links on Architect of the Capitol (AOC) social media posts.
Public Notice
Article
A new special edition of the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) employee magazine, Tholos, is now available.
Behind the Scenes
Article
Recertifications during the COVID-19 pandemic required a new approach.
History & Discoveries
Article
President John Adams issued a letter to all federal agencies on May 15, 1800, directing the "removal of the public offices, clerks and papers" from the capital city of Philadelphia. In that single sentence, Adams started the final move of the U.S. government to its permanent home, the newly created
Projects
Article
The large bronze and glass lanterns are mounted on stately sandstone piers with intricately carved sandstone caps.
Behind the Scenes
Article
The events of January 6 left most of the nation at a standstill, but Architect of the Capitol (AOC) employees immediately went to work, restoring the building and grounds to their proper condition so that Congress could safely reconvene and inaugural preparations could get back on track.
Project
Stone preservation is a top priority for the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) as nearly every building is enveloped in stone and all have problems.
Building
At the U.S. Capitol Building the Senate and the House of Representatives come together to discuss, debate and deliberate national policy; develop consensus; and craft the country's laws.
Behind the Scenes
Article
Much goes into the presidential inauguration at the U.S. Capitol. Here are a few numbers that help set the stage for this special day.
Building
In the pre-fire period this elliptical space housed the Senate wing’s main staircase. Benjamin Henry Latrobe remarked to Thomas Jefferson that "it was one of the most remarkable parts of the Capitol."
Building
The nation's 100 senators sit at individual desks arranged on a tiered semicircular platform facing a raised rostrum. A visitor's gallery overlooks the chamber on four sides.
Building
Located north of the Capitol Rotunda is the richly decorated Old Senate Chamber. Designed by Benjamin Henry Latrobe, this room was home to the U.S. Senate from 1819 until 1859 and later to the U.S. Supreme Court from 1860-1935.
Building
Conceived in the age of neoclassicism, the Rotunda was intended to recall the Pantheon, the ancient Roman temple. Bulfinch created in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda an ambitious orchestration of architecture, sculpture and painting.
Building
Built by Benjamin Henry Latrobe, it was a significant architectural achievement, for the size and structure of its vaulted, semicircular ceiling were virtually unprecedented in the United States. In addition to housing the Supreme Court, this space later served as a committee room, a law library, a
Building
National Statuary Hall is one of the most popular rooms in the U.S. Capitol Building. It, and its collection of statuary from individual states, is visited by thousands of tourists each day and continues to be used for ceremonial occasions.