Design Excellence Program is a key initiative of U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) that seeks to procure the nation’s most distinguished architectural, engineering, and design services to deliver federal buildings of outstanding quality and value. Launched in 1994, the program promotes innovation, sustainability, and high-performance design standards for a broad range of public building projects, including courthouses, office buildings, land ports of entry, and federal agency buildings.
Design Excellence Program employs a two-stage process where the project’s lead designer, typically an architect or engineer, is selected based on demonstrated creativity and problem-solving skills rather than just cost considerations. This approach ensures that the government receives the best design talent and highest quality building possible. The program emphasizes the importance of public architecture by endorsing the concept that federal buildings should reflect the dignity, enterprise, vigor, and stability of the American government.
