Our Mission and Organization

Who We Serve

AOC is responsible to the United States Congress, the Supreme Court, the Library of Congress and the Botanic Garden for the maintenance, operation, development and preservation of over 17.4 million square feet of buildings and more than 587 acres of grounds. AOC also provides professional expertise on the preservation of architectural and artistic elements entrusted to its care and provides recommendations concerning the design, construction and maintenance of the Capitol Hill facilities and grounds. AOC also supports the needs of nearly 30,000 occupants and millions of tourists who visit annually and ensures the buildings and grounds meet modern standards for sustainability and accessibility.

Our Mission

AOC’s mission is to serve Congress and the Supreme Court, preserve America’s Capitol and inspire memorable experiences.

Our Vision

AOC will be an exceptional team, acclaimed for superior service, recognized as trusted stewards and renowned for enriching people’s lives.

Our Values

The professionalism and integrity of each AOC employee demonstrate our dedication to providing quality services and our commitment to holding ourselves to the highest standards.

We recognize that we do our best work through team- work, each of us lending our individual strengths and talents to the greater goal of the entire team. We respect each other and rely on each other in our efforts to make AOC a center of excellence.

We take great pride in what we do and in the honor of serving Congress, the Supreme Court and the American people each and every day.

Our Organization

AOC is a nonpartisan, professional services office of the U.S. government’s Legislative Branch, led by Architect of the Capitol Stephen T. Ayers. The Architect of the Capitol

In Focus: U.S. Capitol Dome Restoration Project

The United States Capitol Dome, symbol of American democracy and world-renowned architectural icon, was constructed of cast iron more than 150 years ago. The 8.9 million pound Dome has not undergone a complete restoration since 1959–1960 and, due to age and weather, is now faced with more than 1,600 cracks and deficiencies.

The AOC recently began a multi-year project to repair these deficiencies, restoring the Dome to its original, inspiring splendor and ensuring it can safely serve future generations of visitors and employees. This project is scheduled for completion by October 1, 2016—in time for 2017 inaugural activities. This critical construction project is an important investment for preserving the historic fabric of our nation and a fiscally prudent business decision.

“As stewards of the Capitol for the Congress and the American people, we must conduct this critical work to save the Dome,” stated Architect of the Capitol Stephen T. Ayers, FAIA, LEED AP. The Architect added: “from a distance the Dome looks magnificent, thanks to the hard-work of our employees. On closer look, under the paint, age and weather have taken its toll and the AOC needs to make repairs to preserve the Dome.”

Preparation work, including the installation of overhead safety netting inside the Rotunda and the construction of a scaffold system on the exterior, has begun. The scaffolding assembly will eventually surround the Dome from the top of the Dome skirt to the base of the Statue of Freedom. As portions of the scaffolding are completed, repairs such as lead paint abatement, primer coat application, cast iron restoration and window replacement and repair can begin. The project will also update existing mechanical, electrical and lighting systems.

More information is available at: www.aoc.gov/dome.