Architectural Excellence Act of 1979 - Amends the Public Buildings Act of 1959 to require the General Services Administrator to use at least one percent of the estimated cost of a public building, which is estimated to cost in excess of $25,000,000 to finance a competition to determine the design of such building. Directs the Administrator to award a price to the winner of such competition. Requires the Administrator to appoint a panel to determine the most appropriate design.