UNITED STATES MISSION TO THE UNITED NATIONS, , New York,

i UNITEDSTATES NATIONS UNITED TO THE MISSION MISSION TO THE UNITED NATIONS New York, New York New York,New York

The U.S. Mission to the United Nations in New York, New York, was designed and constructed under the U.S. General Services U.S. General Services Administration Administration’s Design Excellence Program, Public Buildings Service an initiative to create and preserve outstanding Office of the Chief Architect public buildings that will be used and enjoyed Design Excellence now and by future generations of Americans. 1800 F Street NW , DC 20405 April 2013 202-501-1888 U.S. General Services Administration UNITED STATES MISSION

TO THE UNITED NATIONS,

New York, New York,

6, A Legacy of Excellence, 10, The Permanent Mission, 12, Design Inspiration, 17, Complementing the United Nations, 18, Secure and Welcoming, 24, The Architects and the Artist, 28, The Design and Construction Team, 30, U.S. General Services Administration and the Design Excellence Program, 2 3 4 5 A LEGACY OF EXCELLENCE,

Responsible for conducting America’s taste of my countrymen, to increase their affairs abroad since 1789, the United States reputation, to reconcile them to the rest of Department of State is the oldest executive the world, and procure them its praise.” department of the federal government. Its first diplomats asserted American The State Department has realized Jefferson’s independence; their successors secured the vision consistently. One of its first offices nation’s geopolitical position. Although was designed by James Hoban, the architect the State Department has assumed many of the White House. Later, in 1875, it temporary responsibilities, ranging from would move into a new headquarters—the minting money to taking the census, State, War, and Navy Building. Overseen throughout its history the department has by Supervising Architect of the Treasury served as the President’s primary adviser Alfred B. Mullett, the Second Empire–style and implementer of foreign policy. building was the largest office in the nation’s capital and, demonstrating design’s role in The State Department carries out its technological innovation, one of the first in diplomatic duties in a variety of facilities, the world to have a telephony infrastructure. most recognizably in embassies and With the launch of the U. S. embassy consulates in foreign capitals and other program in 1926, the State Department important global cities. These buildings hired outstanding modernists to express enjoy a tradition of high quality. Thomas American freedom in architectural form; Jefferson argued that the pursuit of they included some of the 20th century’s architectural achievement was vital best known practitioners, such as Gordon to the American experiment, writing Bunshaft, Walter Gropius, Richard Neutra, “Design activity and political thought and Eero Saarinen. In one sign of these are indivisible.” In addition to expressing buildings’ functionality and symbolic value, democratic values, America’s inaugural Edward Durell Stone’s embassy in New Secretary of State and third President Delhi, India, convinced Jacqueline Kennedy claimed that architecture plays a role in to select that architect to design the Kennedy foreign affairs, its objective “to improve the Center for the Performing Arts.

6 7 8 9 THE PERMANENT MISSION,

While it is similar in purpose to an specific to the United Nations. The central embassy or consulate, a diplomatic facility reinforced-concrete office building reached that serves the United Nations is called 12 stories, and it was further distinguished a permanent mission, and America’s by an exterior shade screen of attenuated appointed ambassador to the United concrete hexagons. A gray, buff brick Nations is known officially as a permanent service tower grazed the south-facing side representative. The first United States of the main office. Permanent Mission to the United Nations opened in New York in 1961 at the Studies for replacing this building began southwest corner of 45th Street and First as early as 1992. “It was extremely Avenue, across from the more expansive overcrowded—too chockablock to suit a United Nations headquarters property. permanent representative,” says Ed Feiner, It was designed by the architecture firms former chief architect of GSA. “There was Kahn & Jacobs and Kelly & Gruzen. no security, either. It was a building that had The U.S. General Services Administration, outlived its scale and its time.” which was established to develop and operate federal civilian workplaces, hired Security has rightly been the State these two New York–based architecture Department’s longtime and paramount firms in 1956. concern. Seventy Americans were taken captive from the U.S. Embassy in Tehran The original U.S. Mission facility comprised in 1979, and in 1983 the U.S. Embassy three volumes. A small auditorium set apart in Beirut was destroyed by van explosion. the main office building from neighboring The August 1998 car bombings in Kenya offices and apartment houses to the west. and Tanzania, which killed 224 people Events like press briefings and diplomatic including 43 State Department employees, ceremonies took place in the low-rise prompted department officials to revise auditorium, while in the adjacent main and enhance overall building security office, the State Department conducted standards. Upon release of a report by administrative and diplomatic work the Overseas Presence Advisory Panel,

10 the State Department started a large-scale private-sector peers mentor the winning program of new construction, office moves, project team through schematic design and upgrades to bring facilities in line with phases. Their constructive critique has new ideas about safety. yielded numerous solutions to challenging conditions, as well as award-winning During this period of scrutiny and tight- buildings for GSA. ening of security standards, replacing the U.S. Mission entered concrete planning. David Childs, the Skidmore, Owings & GSA would once again take responsibility Merrill architect widely known for his work for developing the New York facility. on Time Warner Center and One World In order to ensure that the new building Trade Center, participated in design reviews. incorporated higher security without “There really was no precedent for this compromising the State Department’s building,” he says of accommodating the historically high standards of quality, GSA U.S. Mission’s unique criteria. Or, as would undertake the project through its Charles Gwathmey stated in a 2002 inter- acclaimed Design Excellence Program. view, “All the new security requirements that we had to deal with provoked us to Founded in 1994, the Design Excellence ask, What really is an office building?” Program oversees an innovative, two-stage selection process that regularly attracts Gwathmey founded the New York–based respected and emerging American architects architecture firm Gwathmey Siegel & to apply for GSA work. The Design Associates Architects with fellow architect Excellence Program also makes sure that a Robert Siegel in 1968. From a submission private-sector design expert—a member of pool that included more than 30 of the its National Registry of Peer Professionals— best design firms in America, Gwathmey advises the jury convened from within Siegel was selected to design the U.S. GSA and the tenant agency to select the Mission in 1998. Gwathmey passed most technically qualified design team. away a year prior to the new building’s After procurement takes place, three completion in 2010.

11 DESIGN INSPIRATION,

Six years prior to winning the commission The soaring Secretariat, swooping General to design the U.S. Mission, Gwathmey Assembly, and pragmatic Conference Siegel had completed a building within Building, each expressing its own function dense, historically sensitive conditions discretely, immediately captured people’s similar to its new project. To expand the imaginations. It symbolized achieving world Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the peace through rationalism and transparency. architect created a slim 10-story tower that provides a subtle background for Frank The famous building complex also Lloyd Wright’s gallery building and its captivated the architects who were William Wesley Peters–designed annex. designing the buildings surrounding the United Nations grounds. Many tried For the U.S. Mission, Gwathmey Siegel to achieve a dialogue with it. In 1963 sought more equivalence with the nearby Wallace K. Harrison, the New York United Nations headquarters. “The real architect who served as the master planner inspiration was the U.N. itself,” says Peter of the United Nations, broke ground on Ogman, who served as project architect 860/870 United Nations Plaza; the design’s on the U.S. Mission for the firm. While two broad apartment towers and six- responding successfully to the U.S. story base, finished in darkly tinted glass, Department of State’s programmatic were intended to emphasize the lightness requirements, Gwathmey Siegel challenged of Corbusier and Niemeyer’s design. In itself to create an iconic building that another example, the United Nations’ could stand proudly with the landmark configuration of volumes was reflected in across the avenue. the three-part composition of the original United States Permanent Mission by Kahn The United Nations headquarters design & Jacobs and Kelly & Gruzen. And the was selected from 50 proposals, and rigorously gridded reflecting glass cladding esteemed architects Le Corbusier and the Kevin Roche–designed United Nations Oscar Niemeyer collaborated on the Plaza represents the triumph of rational winning scheme completed in 1952. thinking.

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KEY:

1, NORTH LOBBY ENTRANCE , 2, PUBLIC SCULPTURE, 3, SOUTH LOBBY ENTRANCE, 4, NORTH LOBBY, 5, SOUTH LOBBY, 6, PENTHOUSE ATRIUM,

GROUND FLOOR, TOP FLOOR,

13 Once you understand the security limitations, they should be a cause for invention and analysis that allows you to push beyond your preconceptions.

Charles Gwathmey, Gwathmey Siegel Architects

14 15 16 COMPLEMENTING THE UNITED NATIONS,

Sculpting a building form that relates to The shapes also were conceived as a the United Nations exemplifies Gwathmey response to the design of the United Siegel’s “outside-in” approach to the design Nations and to the surrounding buildings process. As Siegel says of himself and inspired by it. He explains: “The term Gwathmey, “We would not compromise counterpoint refers to the clear difference our values related to form making and in the composition and materiality of the use of materials. Although we’re the new building juxtaposed against the always committed to realizing a positive gridded-glass, almost graph-paper-like solution to the realities of a program, we facade of the Roche Dinkeloo–designed were committed to transcending function United Nations Plaza. The predominantly to infuse our personal form of art in the solid obelisk shape also is counterpoint making of architecture.” to the swooping shape of the General Assembly Building and the glass-gridded At the sidewalk the architecture assumes main facades of the Secretariat. It stands a cloud-like shape clad in glass whose as a unique object, clearly differentiated undulating roof is finished in diamond- from the other buildings in its immediate shaped titanium-zinc tiles. Each end context.” of this base terminates in a trapezoidal granite form that reaches outward to 45th Gwathmey Siegel’s U.S. Mission Street and First Avenue. What Siegel calls design demonstrates respect for these the “obelisk” rises 22 stories from this two structures as much as difference sculptural base. The tower is made entirely from them. The slender tower and of high-strength poured concrete. It is its accompanying cylinder appears to intersected by a cylinder also finished in dovetail with the folds of United Nations titanium-zinc tiles, and which surpasses the Plaza’s easternmost wing. And looking at full height of the concrete tower. Siegel says the building from the west, the lobby’s that using fundamental shapes like these granite bookend assumes an angle that “creates an iconic image.” aligns with the Secretariat dome perfectly.

17 SECURE AND WELCOMING,

The geometric composition of the U.S. Feiner recalls concerns about the tight Mission is organized according to the space: “The U.S. Mission could adhere building’s program. The undulating base to a lot of new State Department security is a public lobby, the cylinder includes guidelines except for its proximity to the vertical circulation, and the 22-story street. You can’t achieve a large standoff tower houses offices. This one-to-one in New York without ending up with a correspondence is apparent inside, too. building like a Bic pen.” Curved hallways, which connect the elevator bays to administrative spaces, The design team would have to com- remind users that they are occupying the pensate for that lack of buffer. Gwathmey cylinder. (These spots also offer the best Siegel’s Ogman says, “Having virtually no views to the United Nations and East standoff distance from the major streets, River, to the greatest number of occupants the mission had to be designed to the most and visitors.) Moreover, a 75-foot-tall extreme hardness criteria of any building penthouse atrium is contained within the in the United States. The secure portions space where the cylinder rises above the of the project are located within the tower roofline. The atrium contains an event and protected by poured-concrete exterior venue, and its interior wall features Sol walls. Window openings were limited.” LeWitt’s forced-perspective Wall Drawing #832: A red spiral line on blue. Security guidelines for fenestration state that glass size can increase with building By designating functions with clear height, thanks to greater distance from architectural gestures, the U.S. Mission potential vehicular attack. In turn, the U.S. further complements Corbusier and Mission’s windows widen with increasing Niemeyer’s famous design. But there is height in a matter not unlike the spiraling one striking contrast between the two: red line in the LeWitt artwork. “Instead Whereas the United Nations headquarters of treating the guideline as a limitation, is surrounded by significant acreage, the Gwathmey Siegel harnessed it to a positive U.S. Mission has no such protective zone. effect,” according to Les Shepherd, GSA’s

18 current chief architect. Of this inspired the artist had donated to the original approach to the windows, he also notes, U.S. Mission, was moved from temporary “With the fenestration Gwathmey Siegel display elsewhere and reinstalled on site. not only illustrates program to people on Today the sculpture anchors one corner the street, but also creates a visual signature of the lobby, creating its own point- by which they can remember the building.” counterpoint with the undulating ceiling above it. In addition, through the support “You always have to respect the pedestrian of the Foundation for Art & Preservation and the casual viewer,” Ogman says of this in Embassies, an acrylic-latex mural by signature, “We didn’t want the security Odili Donald Odita flanks two elevators of the building to affront people.” That with tapered bands in bright pastels. Its mandate, to engage pedestrians in an companion mural is installed just outside appealing way, drove Gwathmey Siegel’s the second-floor Press Conference Room, decision making for other aspects of the and the collective artwork is called building exterior. In particular, instead of Light and Vision. The Foundation for Art ignoring the structural tie-holes within the & Preservation in Embassies donated obelisk’s self-consolidating concrete, the numerous other artworks to the mission design team adapted that necessary feature building, a collection that includes the into a pattern, employing the occasional LeWitt wall drawing on the 22nd floor. dummy hole so that the indentations maintain a rhythmic appearance. The third significant artwork is a Additionally, the lobby boasts its organic commission of GSA’s respected Art in shape precisely to captivate passers-by, Architecture Program. Anna Valentina and to draw their attention to a dynamic Murch, a San Francisco–based artist with interior that is open to the public. whom GSA had previously collaborated on an installation at the United States Three major artworks contribute to an Courthouse in Fresno, , inviting feel in the lobby. A steel stabile created Reflections of Landscape for the by the famed Alexander Calder, which U.S. Mission lobby. The jacquard tapestry

19 is based on a photograph of a body of The translucent mesh maximizes viewing water taken in Eldorado National Forest. opportunities of the three installations, It is mounted inside an architectural and Gwathmey Siegel’s soaring ceilings niche, which becomes a window to the and carefully crafted interior surfaces landscape image.“Every day the United frame the public artworks powerfully. Nations does work that reminds us of our Just as security is incorporated into the interconnectedness, that no nation is an U.S. Mission subtly, so is the relationship island,” Murch explains of her choice of between architecture and art. The seamless subject. “Water does not recognize borders combinations underscore American as it falls as rain and flows through our ingenuity and expression. lakes, rivers, and oceans.” Her Reflections of Landscape lends itself to peaceful viewing In his 2002 interview, Gwathmey observed, or to contemplation of the fair distribution “The new security constraints on federal of natural resources. building are opportunities for enriching architecture. Once you understand the The lobby design stresses public security limitations, they should be a cause engagement with the artworks. Consider for invention and analysis that allows you Gwathmey Siegel’s visually lighthanded to push beyond your preconceptions. The approach to separating the pedestrians security issues should allow you to invent who enter the U.S. Mission lobby. Secure a vocabulary that not only solves the circulation routes mean that authorized problem but also creates an appropriate State Department employees, members architectural image.” of the press, and diplomatic visitors can travel to their designated places quickly. Yet the imposition does not seem severe, because a meandering screen woven from stainless-steel wire delineates different pedestrian paths almost imperceptibly.

20 21 22 With the fenestration of the U.S. Mission, Gwathmey Siegel creates a visual signature by which people can remember the building.

Les Shepherd, GSA Chief Architect

23 THE ARCHITECTS AND THE ARTIST,

Charles Gwathmey (1938–2009) received the projects, Gwathmey and Siegel formed his degree in 1962 a partnership with Richard Henderson in from . Two years later he 1968, which, in 1970, became Gwathmey joined the office of Edward Larrabee Siegel & Associates Architects. Barnes, where Robert Siegel supervised office management and served as project Since then the firm has completed architect for large-scale commissions. more than 400 projects, ranging from Gwathmey and Siegel had met previously, education, healthcare, and government as students at ’s High School building types to commercial offices and of Music and Art. cultural institutions. Throughout his career, Gwathmey continually accepted Simultaneous to his apprenticeship with commissions for single-family homes. Barnes, Gwathmey designed a house and In 1982 Gwathmey Siegel received studio for his parents in Amagansett, New the American Institute of Architects’ York, and he left his full-time position in Architecture Firm Award. 1966 to realize the design. The completed residence’s collage of strong geometric Gwathmey served as president of the forms swiftly elevated Gwathmey’s board of trustees for The Institute of professional status. “Architectural careers Architecture and Urban Studies and generally develop slowly, which made was elected a Fellow of the American Gwathmey’s particularly unusual, the Institute of Architects in 1981. He taught architectural equivalent of the young writer extensively, and he was the spring 2005 who comes out of nowhere and produces William A. Bernoudy architecture resident a brilliant first novel,” architecture critic at the . Paul Goldberger wrote in The New Yorker. In 1967, when Barnes was named master Robert Siegel describes his 41-year planner of the State University of New partnership with Charles Gwathmey as “a York at Purchase, he invited Gwathmey to truly unique non-competitive partnership.” design two campus buildings. To realize Upon Gwathmey’s death in 2009, Siegel

24 assumed sole directorship of the firm, and in 1988 and, in 1990, a Lifetime since 2011 the firm has been part of New Achievement Award from the New York York–based Gene Kaufman Architect. State Society of Architects. Siegel was elected a Fellow of The American Institute In addition to collaborating with of Architects in 1991. Gwathmey closely, Siegel oversaw many of Gwathmey Siegel’s large-scale Siegel also has served as a design critic, commercial and institutional projects, juror, and lecturer at schools of architecture such as multiple commissions for the Walt and professional organizations. In 1983 he Disney Company and W Hotels. Siegel organized the Student Intern is well known for his university work, Program within Gwathmey Siegel. He is which includes Nanyang Polytechnic in the vice chairman and former chairman Singapore; East Campus Housing and of the Board of Trustees of Pratt Institute. Academic Center at ; Previously he served as a member of the the School of Agriculture, the Field Graduate School of House/Basketball Arena, and the Theory Design Alumni Advisory Committee. Center for Computer Research at Cornell Siegel graduated from Pratt Institute with University; the Hostos Community College a Bachelor of Architecture degree in 1962 Master Plan and Buildings for the City and received his Master of Architecture University of New York, and the adaptive degree from Harvard University in 1963. reuse of the landmark B. Altman building on Fifth Avenue for the Graduate Center Anna Valentina Murch is an artist who for the City University of New York. works with natural phenomena, light, texture, water, and sound. Since the In 1983, the New York Chapter of the 1980s she has specialized in large, sensory American Institute of Architects bestowed public art projects that heighten one’s Siegel its Medal of Honor. Other awareness of time and memory. Her work recognition includes the Pratt Institute is informed and inspired by research into Centennial Alumni Award in Architecture the history and use of a given site, and

25 often requires the participation of multiple of Art and a Graduate Diploma from the design disciplines to achieve a seamless Architectural Association in London. In integration of art and context. Murch the late 1970s she moved to San Francisco strives to introduce layers of physical and developed artwork for galleries and poetry to enrich a place, so that it enhances museums. In addition to her practice, she community reflection and interaction. has taught at University of California at Berkeley, the San Francisco Art Institute, Notable public commissions include: Water and Harvard University. Currently she Scores at the Center for Performing Arts is a Professor of Art at Mills College in Plaza, Miami; Arroyo Suite, completed for Oakland, California. Constellation Place in Century City, ; Cycles, a courtyard installation at Since 1986, the Foundation for Art and the Civic Court House in New Preservation in Embassies has helped install York; and Sky Tones, which demarcates permanent works of art in U.S. embassies an interior public corridor of the Seattle in more than 140 countries. For the United Symphony’s Benaroya Hall. Murch has also States Mission to the United Nations, worked in collaboration with artist Douglas FAPE and Robert Storr, dean of the Yale Hollis on Waterscape for the San Jose Civic School of Art, worked closely with the Center Plaza. Prior to creating Reflections State Department and Gwathmey Siegel of Landscape for the U.S. Mission to the to identify more than 180 locations for United Nations, GSA’s Art in Architecture artwork. In addition to coordinating Program commissioned Murch to produce donations of art, FAPE funded fabrication Once Upon a Time in Fresno for the United and installation of site-specific commissions. States Courthouse in Fresno, California. They include Sol LeWitt’s Wall Drawing The artist produced this installation also in #832 inside the rotunda, and Light and collaboration with Hollis. Vision, the lobby and second-floor works by Odili Donald Odita. A third commission Born in the United Kingdom and now a is a sculpture by Ron Gorchov entitled United States citizen, Murch received her Totem, located in the 22nd-floor event venue. master’s degree from the Royal College The commissions are gifts of the artists.

26 27 THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION TEAM,

Owner, Tenant, U.S. General Services Administration, The United States Department of State, Public Buildings Service , United States Mission to the United Nations, Northeast and Caribbean Region, New York Program Branch, Joanna Rosato, regional commissioner, Office of International Visitors, Kin Moy, project manager, Bureau of Diplomatic Security, Office of Foreign Missions and Facilities Security Division, Brian Burns, Dorothy Daloia, Hester Harper, David Monahan, Shari Pautz, contracting officers, Bureau of Administration, Office of Operations, Bureau of Information Resource Management, Barry Bair, David Baker, Emily Baker, Lionel Office of Operations and Office of Information Batley, Akisha Bell, Alan Berman, Jennifer Brunner, Technology Infrastructure, Kevin Bunker, Ho-Ming Chiu, Jeffrey Cisney, Charlotte Cohen, Cristina Cordero, Gilbert New York Foreign Press Center , Delgado, Theodore Dogonniuck, Sek S. Eng, Winnie Eng, Robert Fraga, Joseph Franco, Patricia Architect, Frankenberg, Wes French, Robert Granato, Maria Gwathmey Siegel & Associates Architects, Guida, Peter Han, Lorraine Irizarry, Richard Jobsky, New York, New York, Wendy Kalan, Dorothy Kallon, John Kirsch, Carol Charles Gwathmey, Robert Siegel, Latterman, Raymond Lewis, Eileen Long Chelales, founding partners, George Lutz, Daren Marshall, David McDonald, Thomas Levering, partner, Carol McNamara, Brian Middendorf, Lydia Ortiz, Judy Poskanzer, Boris W. Rojas, Joan M. Ryan, Steven Sudak, project architect, John Scorcia, David Seigermeister, Les Shepherd, Peter Ogman, construction architect, Joseph W. Siegel, Amy Simmons, Albert Viscione, Claire Watkins, Crofton Whitfield, Josef Yannotti, Artists, Rick Yao, Alexander Calder, Sol LeWitt, Anna Valentina Murch,

28 Contractor, Joe He, John Heary, Geotechnical and Art in Architecture Leon D. DeMatteis Erika Hoke, Ray Klein, Civil Engineer, National Peers, Construction, Rita Madore, Anthony Parsons Brinckerhoff J. Carter Brown, Elmont, New York, Markopolous, James Quade & Douglas, Wendy Feuer, Richard F. DeMatteis, O’Donnell, Robert Raspanti, New York, New York, New York City Department president, Loren Roller Schnitzer, of Transportation, Vertical Transportation Steve Zimmerman, New York, New York, Scott L. DeMatteis, senior Consultant, executive vice president, Structural Design, Jenkins & Huntington, Construction Excellence Salvatore Novello, Severud Associates, Avon, Connecticut National Peers, project executive, New York, New York, Greg Druga, Environmental Consultant, Hutch Kunzel, Bob Reilly, Grunley Construction, Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing ATC Associates, James Statile, project managers, Rockville, , & Fire Protection Design, New York, New York, David Mott, scheduler, Walt Huber, Cosentini Associates McKissack & McKissack, Tracy Barteau, Charles Consulting Engineers , Design Excellence Washington, DC, Bowers, Klaus Horatschek, New York, New York, National Peers, Drew Langer, Tom Piazza, David Childs, Ralph Johnson, Blast Consultant, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill Mason Johnson, Construction Manager Applied Research Associates, New York, New York, Williamsburg, , and Commissioning Agent, Southern Division, M. Paul Friedberg, Jacobs Engineering, Vicksburg, M. Paul Friedberg New York, New York, and Partners, Vincent Mangiere, Security Consultant, New York, New York, project executive, Ducibella Ventor & Santore, Mack Scogin, Integrated Security Systems William Smith, Mack Scogin Merrill Elam Consultant, project manager, Architects, North Haven, Connecticut, Gayle Benjamin, Yuri Berman, , , Thomas Burns, Mike Telecommunications, Connolly, Art Czarnomski, Audiovisual & Acoustics Mera Faddoul, Monica Consultant, Gonzalez, William Gove, Shen Milson & Wilke, New York, New York,

29 U.S. GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION AND THE DESIGN EXCELLENCE PROGRAM,

Public buildings are part of a nation’s legacy. Guiding Principles for Federal Architecture: They are symbolic of what government is producing facilities that reflect the dignity, about, not just places where public business enterprise, vigor, and stability of the federal is conducted. government, emphasizing designs that embody the finest contemporary and Since its establishment in 1949, the architectural thought; avoiding an official U.S. General Services Administration style; and incorporating the work of living has been responsible for creating federal American artists in public buildings. In workplaces, and for providing all the this effort, each building is to be both an products and services necessary to make individual expression of design excellence these environments healthy and productive and part of a larger body of work represent- for federal employees and cost-effective ing the best that America’s designers and for American taxpayers. As builder for the artists can leave to later generations. federal civilian government and steward of many of our nation’s most valued To find the best, most creative talent, the architectural treasures, GSA is committed Design Excellence Program has simplified to preserving and adding to America’s the way GSA selects architects and engineers architectural and artistic legacy. for construction and major renovation projects and opened up opportunities for GSA established the Design Excellence emerging talent, small, small disadvantaged, Program in 1994 to better achieve these and women-owned businesses. The program mandates of public architecture. Under recognizes and celebrates the creativity and this program, administered by the Office diversity of the American people. of the Chief Architect, GSA has engaged many of the finest architects, designers, The Design Excellence Program is the engineers, and artists working in America recipient of a 2003 National Design Award today to design the future landmarks of our from the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design nation. Through collaborative partnerships, Museum, and of the 2004 Keystone Award GSA is implementing the goals of the 1962 from the American Architectural Foundation.

30 31 PHOTOGRAPHY: MICHAEL MORAN PHOTOGRAPHY, INC. EXCEPT: PAUL WARCHOL, PAGES 8–9, 15, 27; GAVIN HELLIER / GETTY IMAGES, PAGES 22–23 IMAGES, /GETTY PAGES PAUL 8–9,15,27; HELLIER GAVIN WARCHOL, EXCEPT: PHOTOGRAPHY, MORAN INC. MICHAEL PHOTOGRAPHY:

PHOTOGRAPHY: MICHAEL MORAN PHOTOGRAPHY, INC. EXCEPT: PAUL WARCHOL, PAGES 8–9, 15, 27; GAVIN HELLIER / GETTY IMAGES, PAGES 22–23 U.S. General Services Administration, Public Buildings Service, Office of the Chief Architect, Design Excellence, 1800 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20405,

202-501-1888, U.S. General Services Administration