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Nearly three-quarter of Americans (72 percent) prefer traditional architecture for U.S. courthouses and federal office buildings, according to a new poll.
The Harris Poll surveyed over 2000 adults on behalf of the nonprofit National Civic Art Society (NCAS).
These findings come after controversy engulfed a draft version of a Trump administration executive order that would re-orient federal architecture in a traditional direction, including requiring new office buildings in Washington, D.C., be classical in design. Despite proposed legislation—entitled the “Democracy in Design Act” —in the House of Representatives to overturn this anticipated order, this poll shows large bipartisan majorities support the order’s intent.
According to the poll’s results:
- an overwhelming majority of Americans, more than seven in 10, prefer traditional architecture for U.S. courthouses and federal office buildings;
- Democrats (70 percent), Republicans (73 percent), and Independents (73 percent) all agree on their preference for traditional architecture;
- preference for traditional architecture unites majorities of Baby Boomers (age 65+) and Gen-Z (age 18 to 34), and traditional styles are the choice of 77 percent of those aged 65 or older, and 68 percent of those aged 18 to 34;
- majorities of Black (62 percent), Hispanic (65 percent), and white (75 percent) Americans prefer traditional architecture; and
- the typical markers of ‘elite’ status (higher earning and education levels) do not diminish a preference for traditional architecture, and it is the clear choice of Americans making a household income under $50,000 (73 percent) and those making a household income over $100,000 (70 percent); those with a high school degree or less (72 percent), and those with a bachelor’s degree or greater (72 percent).
“At a time when Americans are deeply divided across so many areas, it is heartening to see the vast majority of us can at least agree on federal architecture,” said Justin Shubow, NCAS president. “Americans have long cherished classical and traditional architecture for their federal buildings both for their beauty and because they are widely accepted symbols of our democracy. Such dignified buildings connect us to our heritage and are associated with continuity, equality, openness, and precedent. They are courthouses that look like courthouses, and public buildings that look public. The design of federal buildings should reflect the aesthetic and symbolic preferences of the people they are built to serve. Nonetheless, for over 60 years, architectural elites, Modernist mandarins, and a coterie of critics have foisted their antithetical preferences on federal design.”
Surprisingly small survey- where was this conducted geographically?
There’s a hyperlink in the body of the article that takes you to the poll.
A small poll conducted by an organization that promotes classical art and architecture, with a board of directors composed of fourteen men, no women, and not a single minority. This reflects American values? Why is this newsworthy?
I also looked into the make up of the Board of NCAS – only one architect and one sculptor. The rest are “political mandarins,” investment bankers and business consultants. I wonder at their agenda. Further, if you review the images presented to the poll respondents, the “non-classical” option is in some cases quite poor design, almost forcing a respondent to pick the classical option.
The most important factor NCAS seems to have ignored is we no longer fund civic projects to the level that would be required to support the craftmanship required for carving the ornamentation of classical work. And the technology now being used to precast classical elements clearly is not equivalent.