Contributed by: Preservation Action
Organization: Preservation Action
Dated Posted: May 19, 2026
Website: Visit External Site

Preservation Action submitted comments earlier this week ahead of the National Capital Planning Commission's consideration of a harmful proposal to paint the Eisenhower Executive Office Building's historic granite exterior bright white. The Eisenhower building was built in 1871 as the State, War, and Navy Building and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1969. The building's granite walls are significant character defining features.

The commission received more than 2,000 public comments on the project, the overwhelming majority of which were opposed. In our comments we strongly opposed the proposal, noting that painting the building would undermine the historic appearance of the building, cause irreversible damage to the structure by trapping moisture within the historic masonry, and create expensive, ongoing maintenance challenges.

At the meeting the commission voted unanimously to approve staff comments requiring the applicant to provide more information before the project can move forward. This included technical analysis on how the paint would adhere and affect the building's granite, long-term maintenance costs, alternatives to painting, and photo simulations from different viewpoints.

Numerous preservation professionals and organizations submitted comments or spoke in strong opposition to the proposal. Thank you to everyone that made their voice heard! A recording of the meeting is available here. Our submitted comments are available at the link below.

Preservation Action's Subcommittee Comment: https://preservationaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/EEOB-Painting-Opposition.pdf