President Donald Trump announced plans for a $200 million, 90,000-square-foot ballroom to be constructed at the White House, with a seated capacity of 650 people. Construction is scheduled to begin in September 2025 and is expected to be completed before the end of Trump’s current term. The ballroom will be built where the East Wing currently sits. The East Wing is home to several offices, including the first lady’s, and those offices will be relocated during construction. The East Wing was originally constructed in 1902, with a second story added in 1942.
Design and Architecture
McCrery Architects has been selected as the lead architect, with CEO Jim McCrery stating the firm is “well-known for their classical architectural design.”The new ballroom will maintain the “theme and architectural heritage” of the neoclassical executive mansion. Renderings show a Palladian structure lined with Corinthian columns and rows of Venetian windows, with a coffered ceiling adorned with gold accents and large chandeliers.
The construction team will be headed by Clark Construction, and the engineering team will be led by AECOM.
The new ballroom will have a capacity of 650 people, compared to 200 in the East Room, which is currently the largest event space in the White House. The project aims to solve the problem of state dinners being held in tents that Trump considers unsightly and overpriced. The construction will be funded by Trump and other private donors.
This marks the culmination of a long quest for Trump, who has been discussing the idea for at least 15 years, including calling the Obama administration in 2010 to offer his services building a ballroom.
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