The June 27, 2023 edition of the Wall Street Journal featured an op-ed by National Civic Art Society Research Fellow Myron Magnet:

Government Buildings Don’t Have to Be Ugly

The Founders favored the classical style. The Beautifying Federal Civic Architecture Act would make it the standard.

By Myron Magnet

Federal architecture for 60 years embodied the administrative state’s rules and regulations. Imposed by unelected mandarins, federal designs celebrate technocracy and faceless power. Yet thanks to a joint effort in Congress, our era of elitist and spiritually impoverished government buildings may soon come to an end.

Federal design should “uplift and beautify public spaces,” “ennoble” the U.S, and “command respect from the general public.” These are three provisions from the Beautifying Federal Civic Architecture Act, which Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida and Rep. Jim Banks of Indiana have introduced. The legislation would make classical architecture the default style for major federal buildings in Washington and classical or traditional regional architecture the norm elsewhere. Any deviation would require that the General Services Administration explain its decision to Congress. . . .

You can read the complete op-ed HERE.