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Trump never signed an executive order requiring new federal buildings to be classical in design. But the @USGSA is doing exactly that: New solicitations for federal courthouses include language copied and pasted from the classical-only mandate. https://bloom.bg/32Bg6qQ
A solicitation for a new courthouse in Fort Lauderdale includes text from the proposed federal modernism ban: "Classical architectural style shall be the preferred and default style absent special extenuating factors necessitating another style."
Architects appear to be going along with the GSA's new policy. Four firms are shortlisted for Trump's classical-only courthouse in Fort Lauderdale.
One name really stands out on the list: @SOM_Design, a pioneer in modernism. https://bloom.bg/32Bg6qQ
One name really stands out on the list: @SOM_Design, a pioneer in modernism. https://bloom.bg/32Bg6qQ
Another GSA solicitation for an $86 million federal courthouse in Huntsville, Alabama, was even more explicit: "GSA intends that the design of the new courthouse be neoclassical/greek revival in style, in keeping with other recent Federal courthouses in the State of Alabama."
This $86 million federal courthouse bid has already been awarded. The winner: Payne Design Group, a three-person firm with no federal contract history. The firm mostly designs churches and schools.
"God gives each of us a gift," the firm's site reads. https://bloom.bg/32Bg6qQ
"God gives each of us a gift," the firm's site reads. https://bloom.bg/32Bg6qQ
Many critics have zeroed in on the speech implications of a federal modernism ban. Left and right in this debate get weird fast: @curaffairs has blasted contemporary architecture. So has InfoWars. https://bloom.bg/3eRbYYO
A mandatory house style at GSA for federal design is also a procurement scandal. There are relatively few firms that design only neoclassical architecture, they are typically conservative, and they stand to pull down millions in federal contracts they otherwise don't often win.
One House rep has questions for @GSAEmily (who is incidentally currently holding up Biden's transition):
"Despite clear congressional intent on this subject, it appears that GSA has decided to move forward and implement this major change in agency policy" https://bloom.bg/32Bg6qQ
"Despite clear congressional intent on this subject, it appears that GSA has decided to move forward and implement this major change in agency policy" https://bloom.bg/32Bg6qQ
