Design Edition

The Federal Real Estate Maintenance Backlog Is Over $50 Billion

A new report showcases the US federal government’s efforts to climb out of a real estate hole decades in the making.

The James V. Forrestal Federal Building, the largely vacant headquarters for the US Department of Energy, is seen from L’Enfant Plaza in Washington, DC, US, on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025.Photographer: LEIGH VOGEL

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By Kriston Capps

March 8, 2026 at 12:00 PM UTC

Hello and welcome to Bloomberg’s weekly design digest. I’m Kriston Capps, staff writer and editor for Bloomberg CityLab and your guide to the world of architecture and the people who build things.

This week missiles launched by Iran hit several landmarks across the Gulf States, including the Burj al-Arab in Dubai. Sign up to keep up: Subscribe to get the Design Edition newsletter every Sunday.