NPS Says White House Ballroom Project To Finish Summer 2028; Raises Preservation Concerns

The National Park Service's environmental assessment, completed in late August, estimates that construction of the White House's proposed $300 million ballroom will be finished by summer 2028. The planned 90,000-square-foot addition—nearly twice the footprint of the Executive Mansion—has prompted concerns about its scale and the long-term effects on the historic White House grounds.

Project Overview

The report describes a bi-level ballroom annex that will attach to the Executive Mansion via a covered corridor. Design plans call for a white-painted exterior with historically compatible windows and doors, an architecturally sympathetic roof, stone slab flooring, decorative plaster moldings and high-quality elevator cabs. The assessment was prepared by NPS Deputy Director Frank Land and approved by Acting Director Jessica Bowron.

Historic and Landscape Impacts

While the NPS concluded the annex "will not result in a significant adverse impact to historic buildings" and ultimately judged the project to cause "no significant impact," the assessment documents several notable effects. The building's larger footprint and height are expected to dominate the eastern portion of the grounds, creating a visual imbalance with the more modest West Wing and Executive Mansion and permanently altering views from Lafayette Park and the Ellipse. The sightline from the White House to the Washington Monument and Jefferson Memorial is expected to remain unchanged.

Because of the structure's size, trees and shrubs—including commemorative Southern Magnolias planted in the 1940s—will be removed from the lawn. The East Garden will be dismantled for later reinstallation; bricks, a fountain and a statue are to be carefully preserved for future use. The assessment also notes that grass will likely need replacement and roads may require repaving after heavy construction activity.

East Wing Deconstruction and Salvage

The August 28 assessment states that "The existing East Wing and East Colonnade will be deconstructed." The East Wing was ultimately torn down in late October. Before demolition, NPS removed and preserved museum collections, artifacts and paintings. Preservationists salvaged items including the 1942 renovation cornerstone and bronze plaque, two fanlight windows and the Kennedy Garden arbor. Interior elements such as wood paneling, light fixtures, interior columns and theater items were cataloged for potential reuse.

To ensure an archival record, the NPS documented the East Wing's interior and exterior with a 3-D survey and high-resolution photographs prior to and during demolition.

Construction Risks, Wildlife And Legal Challenge

The report warns construction vibrations could affect the structural stability or finishes of the Executive Mansion and nearby features. It examined impacts on visitor access, public health and safety, economic factors and quality of life. The assessment also considered regional endangered species (including the northern long-eared bat, tricolored bat and monarch butterfly) and concluded there would be no meaningful, measurable, or noticeable impact on those species.

The Park Service's review followed a lawsuit from the National Trust for Historic Preservation alleging the administration bypassed federal review procedures by deconstructing the East Wing and planning the ballroom without completing a full review. The government maintains that the president has broad authority to make changes to the White House.

Bottom Line: The NPS finds the project will cause "no significant impact" overall but documents important, long-term changes to the White House's east-side landscape, sightlines and historic fabric and identifies measures to salvage and document removed elements.