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White House to Break Ground on Privately Financed $200 Million Ballroom in September

Plans are moving forward on a September groundbreaking after the White House secured $200 million in private financing for a 90,000-square-foot ballroom.

A rendering of the White House State Ballroom is seen.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt displays a rendering for a new White House ballroom.
President Donald Trump, left, and James Blair, White House deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs, view renovations to the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, DC, on Tuesday, July 15.
A rendering of the White House State Ballroom is seen.

Overview

  • The new addition adjacent to the East Wing will triple event seating from 200 to 650 guests and eliminate the need for outdoor tents
  • President Trump and unspecified private donors will cover the project’s $200 million cost, sidestepping congressional appropriations
  • McCrery Architects is leading the design with Clark Construction handling the build and AECOM in charge of engineering
  • Offices in the current East Wing, including those of the first lady, will be temporarily relocated as the wing undergoes modernization
  • Consultations with the National Park Service and Secret Service aim to ensure the addition respects the White House’s historical architecture and security needs