Parts of the White House's East Wing have been demolished, as construction begins on US President Donald Trump's new ballroom. Construction crews on Monday tore down massive chunks of a covered entryway and windows in the East Wing, which Trump said is being fully modernised.
The president previously stated that his $250m ballroom addition would be near the existing structure but would not alter it significantly. It won't interfere with the current building. It won't be. It'll be near it but not touching it - and pays total respect to the existing building, which I'm the biggest fan of, Trump had remarked.
Trump announced the construction in a social media post, marking that ground has been broken on the much-needed ballroom. He emphasized that for over 150 years, every president has dreamed of having a ballroom for hosting grand events.
Though renovations at the White House fall under the oversight of the National Park Service, there are concerns regarding the decision-making process and transparency of this project. Robert K. Sutton, a former chief historian of the NPS, expressed concerns about the historical significance of the White House being compromised: This building is so important...yet we just don't know what's happening, and I think that's very inappropriate.
The Society of Architectural Historians and the American Institute of Architects have voiced their apprehensions, calling for a more deliberate design review process. Critics worry about the longstanding importance of preserving the iconic structure's historical integrity while balancing modern demands.
Historically, White House renovations are not new. Previous presidents have made substantial changes, but this renovation's approach has sparked a unique debate on the stewardship of historic properties versus the personalization by current administrations.
