Minnesota Firm ATSR Named Kennedy Center Architect
Golden Valley's ATSR became architect of record for the Kennedy Center's $257 million renovation without a traditional public bid.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Home Renovation
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Golden Valley, Minnesota architecture firm ATSR has become the architect of record for the Kennedy Center's $257 million renovation. The Kennedy Center did not use the traditional public bidding process for the contract.
Why it matters
The selection drew attention because ATSR typically works on Minnesota school projects ranging from $3 million to $40 million, a far smaller scale than the Kennedy Center project. The selection appears connected to ATSR's certification from a government supply purchasing cooperative in Staples, Minnesota.
The $257 million Kennedy Center renovation is roughly six to eighty times larger than ATSR's typical Minnesota school projects, which range from $3 million to $40 million. Whether the award was based on the Staples cooperative certification remains unconfirmed.
The players
ATSR
An architecture, planning and engineering firm based in Golden Valley, Minnesota, with 60 employees, known primarily for Minnesota school expansion projects.
Kennedy Center
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the national performing arts center in Washington, D.C., whose renovation is being led by ATSR.
Donald Trump
The current President of the United States, who replaced Kennedy Center board members and administration last year.
The details
The federal government selected ATSR as architect of record without the traditional public bidding process. ATSR referred questions about its contract to the Kennedy Center's administration, and the news became public through a Washington Post article published last week.
Timeline
2025: President Donald Trump replaced Kennedy Center board members and administration.
Early November 2026: Washington Post article revealed ATSR's selection.
Home Renovation Context
Large federal renovation contracts usually proceed through public bidding, so this non-competitive award stands out against standard federal construction practice. Comparable federal building projects have historically relied on open competition to set cost and selection standards.
The renovation's cost and contract approach may affect how future federal building projects are awarded across the country. Taxpayers funding the work will have a direct stake in how the $257 million is spent.
The takeaway
Large public renovation projects tend to be shaped by how contracts are awarded, not just by design. Watching who wins work and through what process can reveal how public money is spent on major building updates.
Further reading
For more on large-scale building updates, see Home Renovation.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Star Tribune.
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