The House Select Committee on Congressional Modernization has approved select recommendations first provided to that body by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) during a recent hearing on March 17.

A slate of proposals for updating Congressional office space was originally put forth in testimony by Quinn Evans Senior Associate Katie Irwin, AIA, who advised that “we can be good stewards of these historic spaces while sensitively integrating modern updates to facilitate the technology-fueled pace of work.”

Among the total 29 adopted proposals were the following (from Irwin):

• Flex hearing space: The House should identify and develop a space that can be used to hold hearings with alternative seating formats such as a roundtable-style.
• Flexible and modern member office templates: The CAO should provide a broad menu of furniture options and templates for member office space that considers modern and flexible design and function concepts.
• Portal for all reservable space: The House should develop an app and expand the current web portal to include all reservable space in the Capitol and House Office Buildings.
• Offer expanded options for meeting space: The House should establish and designate shared meeting spaces that will allow for members and staff to use on a drop-in basis and not require reservations.
• Improve navigating the campus: To improve wayfinding, the House should consult with internal and external experts to assess and implement navigation improvements necessary to make it easier for visitors to find their way through the Capitol campus.
• Digital displays for hearings and events: The House should provide digital signage displaying information about current public hearings and events.
• Inventory existing space: The House should study the use of its space to understand how it is used, who controls access to various spaces, and how it is managed in the House and the Capitol.

“Promoting effective, collaborative, and healthy workplaces on Capitol Hill supports good governance, which benefits all of us,” Irwin noted.

Congress is pursuing the much-needed upgrades to its facilities and workspaces in the hopes it will make it more responsive, democratic, and accessible to the public in the midst of a turbulent era that has seen more Americans registering distrust in the institution in increasing numbers. 

In line with this new reality, other recommendations include safety upgrades to the building that might help circumvent a total loss of government in the event of another January 6th-style catastrophe.