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10h ago

White House Unveils 1,000-Seat Ballroom Plan, Weighs West Wing Addition

Federal planners received detailed specs and cost, with formal votes ahead under ongoing litigation.

Work continues on the construction of the ballroom at the White House where the East Wing once stood, Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Construction workers watch as work continues on a largely demolished part of the East Wing of the White House in October 2025 in Washington, DC.
Work continues on the construction of the ballroom at the White House where the East Wing once stood, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
The demolition of the East Wing of the White House, the location of U.S. President Donald Trump's proposed ballroom is seen from an elevated position on the North side of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., October 23, 2025. REUTERS/ Andrew Leyden/File Photo

Overview

  • Lead architect Shalom Baranes told the National Capital Planning Commission the East Wing rebuild totals about 89,000 square feet, including a roughly 22,000-square-foot ballroom for about 1,000 guests with 30–40 foot ceilings and a height matching the main mansion.
  • The team is studying a modest one-story addition to the West Wing colonnade to balance a planned two-story East Colonnade linking the East Room to the new ballroom.
  • The project carries an estimated $400 million price tag to be covered by private donations, including from President Trump, with additional design details to be submitted in the coming weeks.
  • Commissioners pressed on scale and process, with formal design reviews scheduled for the Commission of Fine Arts in February and an NCPC vote expected in March.
  • The National Trust lawsuit over demolition-before-review remains active after a judge declined an immediate halt but required plan submissions, while White House officials cite structural decay and obsolete systems to justify tearing down the East Wing.