- Construction of a new 90,000-square-foot White House ballroom will commence in September.
- The East Wing will be renovated to accommodate for the new addition, which will force temporary relocations.
- The renovated ballroom will have a larger capacity than current spaces, with seats for 650 people.
The Trump administration said Thursday that construction on a new White House ballroom will begin this fall.
“For 150 years, Presidents, Administrations, and White House Staff have longed for a large event space on the White House complex that can hold substantially more guests than currently allowed. President Donald J. Trump has expressed his commitment to solving this problem on behalf of future Administrations and the American people,” read a statement from the White House.
What we know about the construction of the new ballroom
Construction is set to begin this September, and on Thursday, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that it will be completed “long before the end of President Trump’s term.”
This new ballroom will be approximately 90,000 square feet, with a seated capacity of 650 people. This is a significant increase from the East Room of the White House, which has a 200-person seated capacity.
“The White House State Ballroom will be a much-needed and exquisite addition,” reads the statement.
Leading up to the start of construction, Trump met with members of White House staff, the National Park Service, the U.S. Secret Service and the White House Military Office to discuss design features.
McCrery Architects has been chosen as the lead architects for the project.
“I am honored that President Trump has entrusted me to help bring this beautiful and necessary renovation to The People’s House, while preserving the elegance of its classical design and historical importance,” said CEO Jim McCrery, according to the statement from the White House.
Clark Construction will lead the construction team and the engineering team will be led by AECOM.
Where will the new ballroom be located?
The new White House ballroom will be separated from the main building of the White House, but “its theme and architectural heritage will be almost identical,” according to the statement from the White House.
It will be located where the “small, heavily changed and reconstructed East Wing currently sits.”
Leavitt said that the “necessary construction” will take place on the East Wing in order to make room for the new ballroom. She added that those who are housed in the East Wing, such as the Office of the First Lady, will be temporarily relocated while the wing is being renovated.
How much will this ballroom cost?
The White House’s statement said that approximately $200 million will be needed to build the structure.
Trump and other donors have committed to donating the necessary funds.
