Category Archives: federal architecture legislation

I am Justin Shubow

President of the National Civic Art Society, a non-profit organization headquartered in Washington, D.C. that promotes the classical and humanistic tradition in public art and architecture. Eleventh Chairman of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, an independent federal agency comprising seven presidential appointees who are the aesthetic guardians of Washington.

Interviewed on 10 Blocks, the Podcast of City Journal

I had the pleasure of being interviewed by John Hirschauer for 10 Blocks, the podcast of City Journal magazine, a publication of the Manhattan Institute. To quote: John Hirschauer: According to sources, you’re being considered to chair the National Endowment for … Continue reading

Posted in Americans' Preferred Architecture for Federal Buildings, federal architecture legislation, McMillan Plan, National Endowment for the Arts, Rebuild Penn Station, U.S. Commission of Fine Arts | Leave a comment

How Classical Architecture Can Unite Americans in an Otherwise Divided Time

Can classical architecture unite Americans in an otherwise divided time? I said “yes” in a lecture earlier this year. I explored how timeless design rooted in ancient precedents–and employed by the Founding Fathers–bolsters democracy, unity, and civic identity. The talk was … Continue reading

Posted in Americans' Preferred Architecture for Federal Buildings, classical architecture, federal architecture, federal architecture legislation, Guiding Principles of Federal Architecture, public talks, Roger Scruton Legacy Foundation | Leave a comment

Intercollegiate Studies Institute Interview of Me

I was glad to sit down with Johnny Burtka, president and CEO of the Intercollegiate Studies Institute (ISI), for an interview about my work at the National Civic Art Society. I discussed how beauty, art, and architecture shape a flourishing … Continue reading

Posted in Americans' Preferred Architecture for Federal Buildings, civic architecture, classical architecture, democracy, federal architecture, federal architecture legislation, Modernism, monuments, National World War I Memorial, public talks, Thomas Jefferson, United Airlines Flight 93 Memorial, Washington, D.C. | Leave a comment

Interviewed on Moment of Truth Podcast

I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Saurabh Sharma, President of American Moment, on his organization’s podcast “Moment of Truth.” We discussed President Trump and the politics of architecture, sustainability, historic preservation, the new National World War I Memorial, … Continue reading

Posted in Americans' Preferred Architecture for Federal Buildings, architecture, Brutalism, civic architecture, classical architecture, democracy, Eisenhower Memorial, federal architecture, federal architecture legislation, Frank Gehry, historic preservation, Modernism, monuments, National Civic Art Society, National World War I Memorial, sustainability, U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, uncategorized, United Airlines Flight 93 Memorial, Washington, D.C. | Leave a comment

My Lecture on Roger Scruton’s Philosophy of Architecture

On May 19, 2024 at Georgetown University, I delivered a lecture on “Roger Scruton’s Philosophy of Architecture” at a conference on Scruton sponsored by the Center for American Culture and Ideas, the American Enterprise Institute, the Ethics & Public Policy Center, the National … Continue reading

Posted in Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission, federal architecture, federal architecture legislation, public talks, Roger Scruton | Leave a comment

My Essay “Make America Beautiful Again”

On August 21, 2024, TomKlingenstein.com published an essay by me on beauty, virtue, and American classical architecture titled “Make America Beautiful Again.” Senator Marco Rubio called it a “must read piece.” To quote: The Victorian art critic John Ruskin thought … Continue reading

Posted in Americans' Preferred Architecture for Federal Buildings, architecture, beauty, Brutalism, civic architecture, classical architecture, classicism, Daniel Patrick Moynihan, democracy, Edmund Burke, federal architecture, federal architecture legislation, John Ruskin, publications, Rem Koolhass, Robert Penn Warren, Thomas Jefferson | Leave a comment

Video of My NatCon Talk: How We Turned the Tables on Modern Architectural Eyesores

On July 10, 2024, I gave a talk on “How We Turned the Tables on Modern Architectural Eyesores” at the National Conservatism conference in Washington, D.C. I discussed policy regarding federal architecture, including President Trump’s Executive Order that re-oriented federal … Continue reading

Posted in Americans' Preferred Architecture for Federal Buildings, federal architecture, federal architecture legislation, GSA's Design Excellence Program, Guiding Principles of Federal Architecture, uncategorized | Leave a comment

Speaking About Roger Scruton’s Philosophy of Architecture

On May 19, 2024 at Georgetown University, I’ll be giving a talk on “Roger Scruton’s Philosophy of Architecture” at a conference on Scruton sponsored by the Center for American Culture and Ideas, the American Enterprise Institute, the Ethics & Public … Continue reading

Posted in architecture, Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission, federal architecture, federal architecture legislation, public talks, Roger Scruton | Leave a comment

Interviewed on Liberty Law Talk Podcast

Liberty Law Talk, a podcast of Law & Liberty, featured an interview of National Civic Art Society President Justin Shubow in which he talks about the influence of civic architecture on body politic, the role of the U.S. Commission of … Continue reading

Posted in American Institute of Architects (AIA), Americans' Preferred Architecture for Federal Buildings, architecture, beauty, Brutalism, civic architecture, classicism, courthouses, deconstructionism, deconstructivism, federal architecture, federal architecture legislation, General Services Administration, George Washington, GSA's Design Excellence Program, Guiding Principles of Federal Architecture, Harris Poll, Jefferson Memorial, Modernism, monuments, National Civic Art Society, sculpture, Thom Mayne, Thomas Jefferson, U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, ugliness, Washington, D.C. | Leave a comment

Interviewed on DC EKG Podcast

A show about the “what and why” of Washington, the DC EKG podcast featured an hour-long interview of me. The show is hosted by Joe Grogan, former director of the U.S. Domestic Policy Council under President Trump, and Eric Ueland, former director of … Continue reading

Posted in Americans' Preferred Architecture for Federal Buildings, architecture, beauty, civic architecture, courthouses, Daniel Patrick Moynihan, federal architecture, federal architecture legislation, General Services Administration, GSA's Design Excellence Program, Guiding Principles of Federal Architecture, Harris Poll, Modernism, National Civic Art Society, U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, Walter Gropius | Leave a comment