Construction on the new 650-seat venue is scheduled to start in September, and the White House says it will be done “long before” Trump leaves office.
WASHINGTON — The White House is getting a new ballroom, with construction set to begin this fall on a 90,000-square-foot event space designed to host large-scale state functions at the presidential complex.
“For 150 years, Presidents, Administrations, and White House Staff have longed for a large event space on the White House complex,” an announcement from the White House said. “President Donald J. Trump has expressed his commitment to solving this problem on behalf of future Administrations and the American people.”
Construction is scheduled to begin in September 2025 and is expected to be completed “long before” the end of Trump’s term.
Trump has said for months that he will build a ballroom at the White House, citing lack of space to hold major functions. Currently, the largest indoor event space in the White House is the East Room, which holds about 200 guests.
The 90,000-square-foot space will be located where the East Wing currently sits and would be able to seat 650 people.
The East Wing currently is home to several offices, including the first lady’s. Those offices would be relocated during construction.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said at her briefing Thursday that the president and other donors have committed to raising approximately $200 million to build the ballroom.
Officials said the ballroom will remain architecturally consistent with the original White House design and sit “substantially separated from the main building” while maintaining its “theme and architectural heritage.”
McCrery Architects, a Washington-based firm known for its classical style, has been selected to lead the design. Clark Construction and engineering firm AECOM will oversee construction.
“Presidents in the modern era have faced challenges hosting major events at the White House because it has been untouched since President Harry Truman,” said Jim McCrery, CEO of McCrery Architects. “I am honored that President Trump has entrusted me to help bring this beautiful and necessary renovation to The People’s House, while preserving the elegance of its classical design and historical importance.”
White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles praised the ballroom plans, adding, “The President and the Trump White House are fully committed to working with the appropriate organizations to preserving the special history of the White House while building a beautiful ballroom that can be enjoyed by future Administrations and generations of Americans to come.”
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