The Society of Architectural Historians (SAH) expresses great concern over the proposed ballroom addition to the White House. On July 31, 2025, the White issued a statement that a 90,000 sq. ft. addition will be made to the White House to incorporate a 650-person capacity ballroom.1 The project is set to begin in September 2025 and planned to be completed “long before” the end of the President’s term in 2029.2 Funded privately by the President and other unspecified donors, the approximately $200 million dollar project involves a major expansion of the East Wing of the White House.3
As the leading scholarly organization for architectural historians in North America, SAH limits its advocacy to matters of national and international import. We assess such issues with rigor and deliberation, and do not speak without due consideration of a site’s architectural and cultural significance. The White House is one of the most important historic buildings in the United States. As stated in the ‘Design Guidelines for the White House and President’s Park’ (1997), issued by the National Park Service: “The White House and President’s Park are first and foremost a public trust, an important part of our national heritage.” 4
1. Enact a Comprehensive Preservation Review: Since the last significant exterior change to the White House in 1942, major advances have been made in the field of historic preservation. Federal regulations and best practices now mandate careful study and mitigation of the impacts of new additions and changes to historic buildings. While the White House is exempt from the requirements of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 that requires federal agencies to consider the effects of federal projects on historic properties, given the exemplary significance of this site, we urge the White House to follow a meticulous review of any proposed demolition and new construction. From the limited information released to the public, it is unclear whether the proposal involves any demolition of the existing East Wing. The White House Press Secretary stated that “nothing will be torn down” to build the new structure6, however, statements by the Chair of the National Capital Planning Commission, indicate that “demolition and site preparation work” can proceed outside of any approvals process for the new building.7 More recently, President Trump stated that the ballroom will be “slightly larger” with a new capacity of 900 people as opposed to 650 people that was originally announced, reflecting an almost 40% increase in occupancy.8 We urge the White House to be transparent and carefully consider the scope, scale and extent of all demolition and new construction. Various design options for the ballroom should be prepared, and a comprehensive process of review and approval should be initiated that prioritizes maintaining the historic character of the building, including but not limited to, architectural scale, proportion and style. In addition, the advisory bodies that exist to better guide preservation of the White House, namely The Committee for the Preservation of the White House, The White House Historical Association and the National Capital Planning Commission, should be consulted and offer their unbiased, thorough and objective assessment and oversight. Moreover, these reviews should be carried out at a pace that allows in-depth deliberations and should not be rushed to meet an aggressive timeline.
2. Evaluate Impacts to the White House Grounds: The proposed addition appears to significantly extend into the landscape south of the existing East Wing. This impacts not only the layout and configuration of the buildings, but also the surrounding landscape that is equally important to the historic character of the White House and the President’s Park (including Lafayette Park and the Ellipse). As such, any changes to the White House grounds should be carefully deliberated and involve appropriate landscape experts.
3. Consider Broader National Impact on Historic Preservation: Known as the “People’s House,” the White House is one of the most significant and visible historic properties in the country. Any project at the White House, whether it involves interior renovation, changes to the landscape, or a new exterior addition, acts as a national precedent in the treatment of historic properties. Recognizing this, we urge the White House to carefully consider our recommendations so that the project can have a positive influence on preservation practice, policies and procedures across the nation.
Approved September 16, 2025.
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8 President Donald Trump as quoted in Peter Nicholas, “Trump Says the New White House Ballroom Will be 'a Little Bigger' Than Initially Planned,” NBC News, September 13, 2025. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-white-house-ballroom-bigger-rcna231033
Cover image: The White House from Washington, DC, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
