Today, the National Trust for Historic Preservation sent a letter to the National Capital Planning Commission, the National Park Service, and the Commission of Fine Arts regarding proposed construction of the White House ballroom.

Carol Quillen, President and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, issued the following statement to accompany the letter:

“Our mission is to protect America’s significant historic sites and to advocate for historic preservation as a core public value, and our congressional charter obligates us to facilitate public participation in the preservation of sites, buildings, and objects of national significance or interest.

We acknowledge the utility of a larger meeting space at the White House, but we are deeply concerned that the massing and height of the proposed new construction will overwhelm the White House itself—it is 55,000 square feet—and may also permanently disrupt the carefully balanced classical design of the White House with its two smaller, and lower, East and West Wings.

We respectfully urge the Administration and the National Park Service to pause demolition until plans for the proposed ballroom go through the legally required public review processes, including consultation and review by the National Capital Planning Commission and the Commission of Fine Arts, both of which have authority to review new construction at the White House, and to invite comments from the American people. 

These processes provide an essential opportunity for transparency and public engagement—values that have guided preservation of the White House under every administration going back to the public competition in 1792 that produced the building’s original design. Doing so will help ensure that the project honors the exceptional historic significance of the White House and its grounds and acknowledges the investment that the American people have in the preservation of this beloved place.

The National Trust stands ready to assist the White House, the National Park Service, and relevant review agencies in exploring design alternatives and modifications that would accomplish the objectives of the Administration while preserving the historic
integrity and symbolism of the People’s House.”