Key Takeaways:
- The construction of the White House’s new $300 million ballroom is expected to be completed in the summer of 2028.
- The 90,000 square-foot building will be nearly double the size of the existing executive mansion and will alter the historical continuity of the White House grounds.
- The project has been met with criticism from preservationists, who argue that it will disrupt the architectural integrity of the east side of the property.
- The National Park Service has found that the project will cause "no significant impact" to historic buildings, but will result in the removal of trees and shrubs, including commemorative Southern Magnolias.
- The ballroom will provide a new space for large gatherings and will eliminate the need for temporary tents.
Introduction to the Project
The White House is undergoing a significant renovation with the construction of a new $300 million ballroom, which is expected to be completed in the summer of 2028. The project has been met with both excitement and criticism, with some arguing that it will provide a much-needed space for large gatherings, while others claim that it will disrupt the historical continuity of the White House grounds. According to an environmental assessment prepared by the National Park Service, the new building will be nearly double the size of the existing executive mansion and will alter the architectural integrity of the east side of the property.
The Environmental Assessment
The environmental assessment, which was prepared by NPS Deputy Director Frank Land and approved by Jessica Bowron, the service’s acting director, found that the project will cause "no significant impact" to historic buildings. However, it did note that the new building’s larger footprint and height will dominate the eastern portion of the site, creating a visual imbalance with the more modestly scaled West Wing and Executive Mansion. The report also found that the project will result in the removal of trees and shrubs, including commemorative Southern Magnolias planted in the 1940s, due to the size of the 90,000-square-foot addition.
Changes to the Original Plan
When the ballroom project was first announced, President Trump said that the addition would not interfere with the current building and would be located near it but not touching it. However, less than a month later, the plan changed, and it was decided that the existing East Wing and East Colonnade would be deconstructed. The East Wing was ultimately torn down in late October, and construction crews continue to remove the debris and prepare for the new ballroom construction. Prior to demolition, the Park Service removed all museum collections, artifacts, and paintings from the East Wing and preserved them, and took steps to potentially reinstall wood paneling, light fixtures, interior columns, and items from the East Wing movie theater.
Design Details of the New Ballroom
The environmental assessment contains design details of the new ballroom, which will be attached to the executive mansion via a bi-level corridor. The building will feature a white painted exterior, historically compatible windows and doors, and an architecturally compatible roof. Interior finishes will include stone slab flooring, decorative plaster moldings, and high-quality finishes for elevator cabs. The East Wing has long served as the visitors’ entrance for formal White House events and tours, and it will continue to do so. In addition, ground-floor restrooms will support events on the South Lawn.
Preservation Efforts
The National Park Service has taken steps to preserve the historical integrity of the White House grounds, including documenting the now-demolished East Wing’s interior and exterior with a 3-D survey and high-resolution photographs. The service also considered the impact on endangered species native to the region, including the northern long-eared bat, tricolored bat, and monarch butterfly, and found "no meaningful, measurable or noticeable impact" on the animals. The East Garden will be removed and reinstalled, and bricks, a fountain, and a statue will be carefully dismantled and preserved for future reinstallation.
Conclusion
The construction of the new White House ballroom is a significant project that will provide a new space for large gatherings and eliminate the need for temporary tents. While the project has been met with criticism from preservationists, the National Park Service has found that it will cause "no significant impact" to historic buildings. However, it will result in the removal of trees and shrubs, including commemorative Southern Magnolias, and will alter the historical continuity of the White House grounds. As the project moves forward, it will be important to balance the need for modernization with the need to preserve the historical integrity of the White House.