The White House announced that it will submit the proposed renovation plan for the White House East Wing Grand Ballroom, presented by President Donald Trump, to the federal planning agencies in early January next year. This marks the first formal entry of related plans into the federal review process since the original East Wing building was demolished in October of this year.
According to a notice on the official website of the National Capital Planning Commission, the White House will conduct an “information briefing” on the East Wing rebuilding project at the commission meeting on January 8. The commission, authorized by Congress, is responsible for reviewing planning matters concerning federal lands and important buildings in the Washington, D.C. area.
The ballroom project has been personally driven by Trump. The White House stated that the project is estimated to cost approximately 300 to 400 million dollars, and the funds will be provided by Trump himself and private donors, without using federal taxpayer funds.
As envisioned, the new ballroom will have a building area of about 90,000 square feet, significantly increasing the White House’s capacity to host state dinners and large national events.
However, the scale of the new construction not only exceeds the existing approximately 55,000 square feet of the main White House building but also may become one of the most significant alterations to the historic layout of the White House in decades, sparking high levels of attention from the political and heritage preservation sectors.
Some Democratic members of Congress have criticized the project as potentially abusing public power and have initiated investigations into the sources of funding; historical preservation groups have questioned whether the project will have irreversible effects on the national historic landmark of the White House.
The nonprofit organization established by Congress, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, has filed a lawsuit seeking to halt construction, arguing that the size of the ballroom will “overwhelmingly” alter the overall appearance and historical value of the White House.
Earlier this month, a judge refused to issue a temporary restraining order, stating that the final size and specific design of the project have not been determined and therefore it was not appropriate to immediately stop the work. A related hearing is expected to take place next month.
The Trump administration emphasizes that the design of the ballroom will closely match the existing architectural style of the White House and describes the project as a critical component of the overall renovation plan for the White House and Washington, D.C., in preparation for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026.
The project is currently in the planning phase. Due to disagreements between the original design team and the White House regarding the project’s scope, the White House has enlisted the local Washington firm Shalom Baranes Associates to take over the primary design work.
The National Capital Planning Commission stated that the formal review is expected to commence in the spring of next year, during which issues such as visual landscapes, public spaces, and overall environmental impacts will be evaluated, and the public will be invited to submit written opinions or attend hearings to express their views.
(This article referenced reporting from Reuters)