When you look at classical architecture, it conveys a sense of elegance and majesty. It’s meant to uplift the spirit,’ an architectural designer said.
WASHINGTON—Long before he became president, Donald Trump envisioned a White House ballroom and even offered to build one at his own expense. The Obama administration turned him down.
Now, as the current resident of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Trump is bringing that long-held dream to life in the traditional, classical design he favors most.
“We’re good at building, I’m good at building things, and we’ll get it built quickly and on time,” Trump said on July 31 when he first announced his ballroom project. “It’ll be beautiful, top of the line.”
“We’ve retained the best architects and engineers.”
Soon after demolition began on the East Wing on Oct. 20, however, the project drew national attention. It quickly formed the basis of a political debate, with critics accusing Trump of erasing White House history, and supporters arguing that the new ballroom was long overdue.
Trump said that presidents had wanted a ballroom for 150 years but none had his experience in building them.
Despite being a national landmark, the White House has limited space to accommodate large gatherings.
The East Room—the largest event space on the property—fits about 200 guests. The State Dining Room, used for formal dinners and receptions, holds 140 people. As a result, large gatherings are often hosted in temporary tents built on the South Lawn, which Trump has described as “not a pretty sight.”
The new ballroom will be 90,000 square feet and host up to 999 guests.
“Adding a large ballroom makes good sense—it’s an intelligent project to do,” Richard Cameron, architectural designer and co-founder of Atelier & Co. in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, told The Epoch Times.
He said that the White House has long been too small for a country with immense global power and influence, especially when it comes to hosting major diplomatic gatherings.
As a leading voice in the revival of classical architecture, Cameron applauded the new ballroom project and the administration’s broader efforts to beautify the nation’s capital.
