The White House has announced its intention to build a new ballroom worth $200 million — this will fulfill the wish of US President Donald Trump. About this informs BBC.
The 650-person hall will be located next to the renovated East Wing, which currently houses the offices of First Lady Melania Trump and representatives of the administration. Press secretary Caroline Levitt said that the financing of the project will be provided personally by Trump and several anonymous patrons. Construction works are planned to start in September.
The idea of creating a luxurious ballroom was floated by Trump back in 2016, when he offered $100 million for the project of the Barack Obama administration — and then the initiative was rejected. Currently, the main receptions in the White House are held in the East Hall, which accommodates about 200 guests. For large events, in particular with the participation of foreign delegations, it is often necessary to set up tents on the South Lawn.
At the briefing, Caroline Levitt emphasized that the new extension with an area of about 8,360 square meters. m will be “very necessary and elegant” and will allow to receive a much larger number of guests without the use of temporary structures. Construction is planned to be completed by the end of Trump’s presidential term in January 2029.
McCrery Architects, a Washington-based architectural firm known for its classic styles, is working on the project. In the renderings released by the White House, the new hall harmoniously fits into the architecture of the residence: luxurious interiors, chandeliers, ornate columns. Also shown is what the revamped East Wing will look like, with the ballroom appearing on the right. Melania Trump’s office and other offices will be temporarily moved during the reconstruction.
The project is part of a broader set of changes Trump has been promoting at the White House: installing flagpoles, updating the design of the Oval Office, remodeling the Rosary Garden.
