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House Office Moves

The U.S. House of Representatives just underwent one of the biggest transition cycles in recent history. The Architect of the Capitol's House Office Buildings jurisdiction is heavily involved in the corresponding work — this includes overseeing the lottery process for suite selections to moving all of the affected offices.
By AOC Staff | February 4, 2019
        
                  Image
    AOC House Office Buildings employees work together to shrink wrap boxes, ensuring a safe move.

AOC House Office Buildings employees work together to shrink wrap boxes, ensuring a safe move.

The moves involve nearly every House trades shop as it takes a team effort to make sure every member has an office within one month. Just a sampling of the work behind the scenes:

Managing move logistics
	Removing pictures and shelves
	Relocating power for new suite layouts
	Changing or re-lamping lights
	Repairing plaster and painting suites
	Changing locks and providing keys
	Cleaning rooms
	Un-installing, moving and re-installing TVs
	Installing cable/TV and legislative clocks
	Tapping in new water filtration lines for office water coolers
	Completing preventative maintenance on radiators and induction units
	Moving boxes, flags and pictures
	Hanging pictures and other memorabilia
	Shredding papers and recycling itemsThe Lottery & Suite Selection

The House Office Buildings Superintendent's Office as designated by the House Office Building Commission is responsible for overseeing the lottery and suite selection process that assigns suites to members of Congress and their staff.

Every two years following the election, newly elected or re-elected members and their staff review offices that have been vacated by previous members of Congress. These offices were occupied by members who retired, resigned, lost their primary or lost in the general election. These vacated offices are eligible for selection by members based on seniority and their selected number during the lottery process.

Nearly every office is different, from window views to square footage and layouts. Members and staff can use the AOC's suite selection website to see details of each available suite, before the lottery.

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    Assistant Superintendent Barron Dill assists congressional staff with selecting a suite.

Assistant Superintendent Barron Dill assists congressional staff with selecting a suite.Members can choose a suite in order based on their seniority and selection in the lottery of members that share their same seniority. The lottery position is determined by members selecting a number out of a box. Members then select a suite before it goes to the next person in the lottery.

After making a selection, staff from that office meet with representatives of the AOC and the House of Representatives Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to layout their office, pick furniture, choose paint colors, and select carpet and drapes (if eligible for selection). Members who select a new suite give up their old offices, making it available for selection by another member. This creates a chain effect lasting until the members-elect pick from the remaining available suites. AOC and CAO move coordinators manage each chain.

The move process begins in November, and all related work must be completed prior to the new Congress being sworn-in in early January.
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