Throughout history, a special prestige has accompanied commissions to design our most prominent government and political buildings. From national capitols to embassies, presidential libraries to exclusive guest houses, these projects remain massive career opportunities. But they are not for the faint of heart. High-profile government and political commissions may involve many stakeholders, take years to construct, and be subject to a host of limitations. How they are received may have as much to do with perceptions of the leaders inhabiting these buildings as with design. And, let's face it: It's hard to make a security checkpoint look good. Yet, for the following designers-who are working on some of North America's most prominent government and political architecture-the reward is still greater than the risk, for these are buildings that bring people together over generations. No matter how high-profile, these landmarks are not about their designers' egos. They're about a greater good. Designs i+D - January/February 2020 27