Stimulus Spreading Work to Otherwise Barren Field of Architecture

Work has been hard to find for many architects over the last year. But for architects doing federal work, the story is a bit different.

1 minute read

September 16, 2009, 11:00 AM PDT

By Nate Berg


"'Our federal practice is swamped,' says Gus Ardura, HDR Architecture's national director for federal practice. 'State, local, and private are down, but we've been able to shift a lot of our focus over to federal.' The Omaha-based firm was selected to be part of the new $500 million Department of Homeland Security headquarters project at St. Elizabeth's campus in Washington, D.C. Meanwhile, the firm is also using its existing indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contracts with agencies, such as the U.S. General Services Administration, to sweep up smaller renovation and energy-upgrade projects, according to Ardura."

The emphasis on "shovel-ready" has left some architects out, but others are finding some opportunities for work through the federal stimulus package.

Friday, September 11, 2009 in Architectural Record

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Concrete Brutalism building with slanted walls and light visible through an atrium.

What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities

How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.

February 28, 2025 - Justin Hollander

Complete Street

‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge

Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.

February 27, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Green electric Volkswagen van against a beach backdrop.

The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan

Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.

March 3, 2025 - ABC 7 Eyewitness News

View of mountains with large shrubs in foreground in Altadena, California.

Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire

In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.

March 9 - Pasadena NOw

Aerial view of single-family homes with swimming pools in San Diego, California.

San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule

The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.

March 9 - Axios

Close-up of row of electric cars plugged into chargers at outdoor station.

Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives

A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.

March 9 - UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation