Construction of a lavish $200 million ballroom at the White House unveiled
The White House is set to undergo a significant transformation in the coming years, with the construction of a new ballroom scheduled to begin in September 2025. Funded by President Donald Trump and other donors, the project is estimated to cost around $200 million.
Clark Construction will lead the construction efforts, while AECOM will head the engineering team. The United States Secret Service will handle the required security enhancements. The new ballroom will be located on the site of the current East Wing, which was originally built in 1902 and has undergone various renovations. The design of the new ballroom will closely match the White House's architectural heritage but will be a separate structure. The completion is planned well before the end of President Trump's term.
The White House announced plans to construct a new ballroom, adding 90,000 square feet to the presidential residence. The new ballroom will have a seating capacity of 650 people. The construction of the ballroom is not without controversy, as some have criticized President Trump's decision to pave over the White House Rose Garden. The reconstruction of the historic Rose Garden is nearing completion.
Emily Burack, the Senior News Editor for Town & Country, has been covering the developments surrounding the White House ballroom project. Burack, who can be followed on Twitter and Instagram under the handle @emburack, covers entertainment, celebrities, the royals, and a wide range of other topics. Before joining Town & Country, Burack was the deputy managing editor at Hey Alma.
In 2010, Trump offered to construct a new ballroom for the White House to then-President Barack Obama's adviser, David Axelrod, according to NPR. The offices in the East Wing will be relocated during the construction process. McCrery Architects will serve as the lead architects on the project.
Trump has previously expressed dissatisfaction with State Dinners being held in tents, and it seems that the construction of the new ballroom is a step towards addressing this issue. The President has also installed new flagpoles on the North and South lawns of the White House.
[1] White House Announces Plans for New Ballroom, Adding 90,000 Square Feet to Presidential Residence (2021, date unknown) [2] Trump Offers to Build New Ballroom for White House (NPR, 2010, date unknown)
- This year's State Dinners may see a change in venue, as the White House is set to undergo a transformation with the construction of a new ballroom, adding 90,000 square feet to the presidential residence.
- The new ballroom, with a seating capacity of 650 people, is expected to address Trump's dissatisfaction with previous State Dinners held in tents.
- Emily Burack, Senior News Editor for Town & Country, has been providing updates on the controversial project, which has also garnered attention due to the reconstruction of the historic Rose Garden.
- AECOM is set to lead the engineering team for the project, with Clark Construction at the helm of construction efforts, and McCrery Architects serving as lead architects.
- The new ballroom, funded by President Donald Trump and other donors, is estimated to cost around $200 million and will be located on the site of the current East Wing, originally built in 1902.
- The ongoing project, scheduled to begin in September 2025, is part of the broader discourse on policy and legislation, politics, and general news, making it a significant discussion point in the realm of cultural and societal discourse, alongside entertainment, art, and the royals.
