Since the U.S. General Services Administration launched its Design Excellence Program in 1994, the quality of federal courthouses, land ports of entry, and other national facilities has improved dramatically. In honor of two decades of transformation, “Designing for Democracy” documents GSA Design Excellence’s roots in the Guiding Principles for Federal Architecture, as well as the program’s launch, ramifications, and more recently hatched ambitions. SOM Design Partner Craig W. Hartman and Partner Emeritus David Childs share their thoughts about this evolution.
GSA (General Services Administration)