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Friday, Mar 20, 2026
Outside the box.
Architect Reveals Trump-Backed White House Ballroom Will Match Main Residence Height and Feature Grand Event Space
Lead designer outlines ambitious scale and mixed use of the 90,000-square-foot East Wing ballroom project as federal review proceeds
The architect leading the ambitious expansion of the White House’s East Wing unveiled new design details this week, revealing that the ballroom President Donald Trump requested will be as tall as the historic residence itself and will encompass a range of formal and functional spaces.
The announcement came during a public planning meeting as two federal review bodies — the Commission of Fine Arts and the National Capital Planning Commission — continue to assess the project’s aesthetics, scale and impact on the White House grounds, amid ongoing legal scrutiny from preservation groups.
Shalom Baranes, whose Washington firm is overseeing the design, told commissioners that the planned ballroom will rise to the same height as the main White House building, with ceilings reaching approximately forty feet.
The central ballroom, part of a larger 90,000-square-foot complex, is designed to host state functions and significant diplomatic events, providing much larger capacity than the existing East Room.
Baranes said the expansion also includes offices for the first lady, a reconstructed movie theatre and improved visitor access, underscoring the multifunctional nature of the addition.
Commissioners asked for detailed three-dimensional scale models so they can better understand how the new structure will integrate with adjacent federal buildings and preserve historic sightlines.
Baranes confirmed that future in-person sessions will include physical models of the White House complex with the proposed expansion, as well as contextual models of nearby landmarks.
He also noted discussions about a potential two-story colonnade and a modest one-story addition to parts of the West Wing to help balance the overall design and maintain architectural harmony across the White House campus.
The ballroom project, privately financed and championed by Mr Trump as essential for hosting major diplomatic and cultural events, has drawn both support and criticism.
Supporters, including Trump appointees on the Commission of Fine Arts, argue the nation needs a permanent venue for presidential hospitality beyond temporary tented structures.
Critics and preservationists have challenged the demolition of the East Wing without thorough independent review and argue that the scale of the new addition could dominate the historic mansion’s profile.
Both federal commissions are expected to issue recommendations and decisions in the coming months as the project advances toward potential approval.
The announcement came during a public planning meeting as two federal review bodies — the Commission of Fine Arts and the National Capital Planning Commission — continue to assess the project’s aesthetics, scale and impact on the White House grounds, amid ongoing legal scrutiny from preservation groups.
Shalom Baranes, whose Washington firm is overseeing the design, told commissioners that the planned ballroom will rise to the same height as the main White House building, with ceilings reaching approximately forty feet.
The central ballroom, part of a larger 90,000-square-foot complex, is designed to host state functions and significant diplomatic events, providing much larger capacity than the existing East Room.
Baranes said the expansion also includes offices for the first lady, a reconstructed movie theatre and improved visitor access, underscoring the multifunctional nature of the addition.
Commissioners asked for detailed three-dimensional scale models so they can better understand how the new structure will integrate with adjacent federal buildings and preserve historic sightlines.
Baranes confirmed that future in-person sessions will include physical models of the White House complex with the proposed expansion, as well as contextual models of nearby landmarks.
He also noted discussions about a potential two-story colonnade and a modest one-story addition to parts of the West Wing to help balance the overall design and maintain architectural harmony across the White House campus.
The ballroom project, privately financed and championed by Mr Trump as essential for hosting major diplomatic and cultural events, has drawn both support and criticism.
Supporters, including Trump appointees on the Commission of Fine Arts, argue the nation needs a permanent venue for presidential hospitality beyond temporary tented structures.
Critics and preservationists have challenged the demolition of the East Wing without thorough independent review and argue that the scale of the new addition could dominate the historic mansion’s profile.
Both federal commissions are expected to issue recommendations and decisions in the coming months as the project advances toward potential approval.
