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Photograph of people walking outside on a Self-Guided Tour of Capitol Hill
Self-Guided Tours on Capitol Hill
Visitors can tour many highlights on Capitol Hill without registering.
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Stephen T. Ayers, FAIA, CCM, LEED AP, Architect of the...
On February 24, 2010, President Barack Obama nominated Mr. Ayers to serve as...
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Flight 93 Memorial Plaque in the U.S. Capitol
Remembering September 11, 2001
For those of us in Washington, D.C., on September 11, 2001, the site of the...
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News & Notices

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2016 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey Results

December 15, 2016

Architect of the Capitol (AOC) employees reported very favorable perceptions about working at the AOC. In a federal employee survey about workplace engagement, the AOC scored favorably in 95 percent of questions, and higher than the federal government average on 85 percent of questions. Every other year, the AOC conducts the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS) to measure employees' perceptions of whether, and to what extent, conditions characterizing successful organizations are present at the AOC. In 2016, the AOC scored highly favorable in 70 percent of questions and favorable in 25...

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Before & After: Grant Memorial

December 06, 2016

Restored Bronze of the Grant Memorial
Since 2015, the Ulysses S. Grant Memorial by Sculptor Henry Merwin Shrady has been hidden behind scaffolding, but recently, that has changed. The bronze conservation effort has come to a close, and now an astonishingly vibrant, emotional and detailed sculpture is revealed. The Architect of the Capitol Photography Branch has documented each step of the restoration process. Check out the before and after pictures on Flickr.

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Performance and Accountability Report for FY 2016 is Now Available

December 02, 2016

Architect of the Capitol's (AOC) Performance and Accountability Report (PAR) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 is now available online. The PAR provides an overview of the agency's collective financial and operational accomplishments to help Congress and the American people assess our stewardship of the public resources entrusted to us. Through the talent and hard work of our dedicated employees, the AOC realized a number of key accomplishments during FY 2016. Major achievements described in the report include the completion of the restoration of the U.S. Capitol Dome and the initiation of the...

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Capitol Dome Successfully Restored

November 15, 2016

The restored Capitol Dome.
This morning, Architect of the Capitol Stephen T. Ayers, FAIA, LEED AP, announced that the first comprehensive restoration of the Capitol Dome in more than half a century is complete.  "The Dome was in dire need of repair and with the help and leadership of Congress, we repaired more than 1,300 cracks and deficiencies in the cast iron. We repaired or recast intricate ornaments, gutters and balustrades. The team used both innovative technology and historical tradecrafts to repair the Dome. Our work revealed and preserved exquisite craftsmanship that went into the construction of the Dome. We...

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2016 Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony Announced

November 02, 2016

The U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree will be lit by the Speaker of the House, Paul D. Ryan, on Tuesday, December 6, 2016, during a ceremony on the West Front Lawn beginning at 5 p.m. "The Capitol Christmas Tree brings with it a spirit of community, and the start of the season of generosity and cheer. We're excited to light the tree, and grateful to all those who have taken part in its journey all the way from Idaho," said Speaker Ryan. Architect of the Capitol Stephen T. Ayers, FAIA, will serve as master of ceremonies. The Architect of the Capitol selects the tree, in consultation with the United...

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Architect of the Capitol Attaches Final Ornament to the U.S. Capitol Dome

October 27, 2016

Architect of the Capitol Stephen Ayers attaching the final restored ornament, a rosette, to the U.S. Capitol Dome.
Today the Honorable Stephen T. Ayers, FAIA, LEED AP, Architect of the Capitol, joined members of the Dome Restoration team to attach the final restored ornament, a rosette, to the U.S. Capitol Dome. "The rosette attached this morning was one of the first removed at the start of the U.S. Capitol Dome Restoration project. Reattaching this ornament in its fully-restored form feels like coming full-circle on this project," said Ayers. The Dome includes multiple decorative features often not seen from the ground. This impressive and detailed craftsmanship includes rosettes, acorns, grape...

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