Recently, President Biden revoked
the Trump administration’s Executive Order 13967, which made classical
architecture the preferred style in certain federal buildings.
The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) opposed the Executive Order mandating classical design in federal projects
when it was first proposed in early 2020. Hundreds of ASLA members sent
letters to the Trump administration, opposing the order and asking the
president to reconsider. ASLA again opposed the order and urged its
reversal when it was signed by President Trump in December 2020.
"ASLA
has long stated that designers of civic spaces should not be mandated
by federal law to follow any specific style. Our nation's federal
buildings, parks, and monuments should reflect the needs and values of
the communities they are built to serve," said Torey Carter-Conneen, CEO
of the American Society of Landscape Architects. "We thank the
administration for embracing the values of diversity and inclusion by
overturning this misguided dictate."
ASLA joined other
organizations in the design industry, like the American Institute of
Architects (AIA), the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and the
National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) in opposing the
design mandate.