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Photo Caption: In April 2014, Architect of the Capitol Stephen T. Ayers briefed the media on the details of the multi-year U.S. Capitol Dome Restoration Project upon the reopening the Rotunda after the installation of protective netting.
Photo Caption: The AOC published a time lapse video showcasing six months of work scaffolding the U.S. Capitol as part of the two-year Capitol Dome Restoration Project: www.youtube.com/
serves as an official of the Legislative Branch, acting as both an officer and agent of Congress. footnote 3
AOC provides a wide range of professional expertise and services to preserve and enhance the U.S. Capitol. AOC is responsible for the preservation of some of America’s most historic landmarks. In addition to facilities management services, AOC also manages new construction, renovation projects and visitor services at the Capitol Visitor Center and the U.S. Botanic Garden. AOC is organized into 10 primary jurisdictions as well as general administration offices in charge of centrally managed functions. Figure 8 presents AOC’s organization chart. AOC’s organizational directory is online at www.aoc.gov/organizational-
While AOC’s jurisdictions are each funded by separate appropriations, footnote 4, the General Administration (GA) appropriation centrally funds common operational services supporting AOC jurisdictions’ engineering, safety, energy, construction, preservation and business needs. This allows AOC to establish economies of scale that increase efficiency and reduce costs by providing centralized specialized expertise in support of all AOC operations. Funding for the GA appropriation supports multiple operations and mission support including construction, curatorial, design, energy and sustainability, facilities planning and program- ming, historic preservation, project management, safety, fire, and environmental, technical support and business services and programs.
AOC’s responsibilities have steadily increased throughout its history and its workforce has kept up with congressional demand for professional and construction services. AOC’s FY 2014 staff included 2,085 Full-Time Equivalents (FTEs) (as of September 30, 2014) as well as temporary and seasonal staff. AOC uses temporary and seasonal staff as cost-saving measures for activities of limited duration (e.g., construction projects and the biennial congressional office moves) and programs with fluctuating demands (e.g., visitor services). AOC’s most valuable resource is its workforce. Each employee’s contribution is vital to AOC’s success. The diverse workforce includes skilled laborers, custodians, gardeners, electricians, plumbers, upholsterers, carpenters,
Footnote 3. The Architect of the Capitol also serves as a member of several governing or advisory bodies, including the U.S. Capitol Police Board, Congressional Accessibility Services Board, Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission and the District of Columbia Zoning Commission. The Architect of the Capitol serves as an ex-officio member of the United States Capitol Preservation Commission and the National Building Museum and as the Acting Director of the U.S. Botanic Garden under the Joint Committee on the Library.
Footnote 4. The AOC Supreme Court Building and Grounds jurisdiction is reimbursed for its expenditures via the Judicial Branch appropriation. The remaining AOC jurisdictions are funded via the Legislative Branch appropriations bill.