Aides to Donald Trump on Thursday defended plans for a $400 million White House ballroom before a federal oversight body, marking the project’s first public review. The proposal would replace the demolished East Wing, with officials also weighing a possible second story for part of the West Wing.
Architect Shalom Baranes told the National Capital Planning Commission the ballroom would span 22,000 square feet and seat 1,000 guests, with no plans to expand capacity further.
#Trump #WhiteHouse #Ballroom #USPolitics #WashingtonDC #FederalBuildings #Architecture #BreakingNews #NationalCapitalPlanningCommission #ShalomBaranes #GovernmentProjects #PublicHearing #Politics #Presidency #WestWing #EastWing #Infrastructure #Design #NewsUpdate #CurrentEvents
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Architect Shalom Baranes told the National Capital Planning Commission the ballroom would span 22,000 square feet and seat 1,000 guests, with no plans to expand capacity further.
#Trump #WhiteHouse #Ballroom #USPolitics #WashingtonDC #FederalBuildings #Architecture #BreakingNews #NationalCapitalPlanningCommission #ShalomBaranes #GovernmentProjects #PublicHearing #Politics #Presidency #WestWing #EastWing #Infrastructure #Design #NewsUpdate #CurrentEvents
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NewsTranscript
00:00I do have a number of questions. The first is, how has the proposal, how is this proposal consistent with the Comprehensive Plan's urban design requirements, which include, I think it's B1.4 in the urban design element, visually reinforced the preeminence of the Capitol building, White House, and other nationally significant resources by protecting the visual frame around them.
00:27And B5.10, visually reinforced the special importance of the White House and its grounds by protecting the existing spatial relationship of the White House and the mass and scale of adjacent buildings.
00:42So my question pertains to how this proposal is consistent with those elements of the Comprehensive Plan.
00:51Thank you for those questions, Mr. Mendelson.
00:54We are being very, very careful, first of all, to maintain, I think, a fairly sufficient distance from the central pavilion of the White House and be developed in a matching way on both sides of the central pavilion of the White House.
01:14I think we will actually be in concurrence with the paragraph that you just cited.
01:25All right, that probably will come up again at future presentations.
01:30Can the size, footprint, or location of the ballroom, the location of the ballroom on the site be changed at this point?
01:38I mean, certainly anything is possible.
01:41It all depends on schedule and money.
01:44But this particular location has been studied pretty carefully by the previous architect as well as myself.
01:52And it's been determined that this is the best location in terms of getting access to it from the east room of the White House.
02:01But part of my question was the size of footprint.
02:05So has construction work on the ballroom foundation already begun?
02:09There's been excavation work.
02:11There's some foundation work.
02:12But that's really not the limiting issue in terms of whether things can be changed or not.
02:18Okay, so as this gets further refined, the footprint could conceivably be reduced a little bit?
02:29The work on the foundation so far is not that significant?
02:34Well, as I said, the footprint has been studied fairly extensively already.
02:39And many different massing options were studied before we even came on board.
02:46So at this point, we've continued working with that, with the product of all those studies.
02:53And we are primarily refining the scheme.
02:58So I appreciate that the cornice line will not be higher than with the historic structure.
03:03But is it possible that the height of the ballroom, which of course determines the cornice line,
03:10that that could be reduced somewhat?
03:12Because it still seems to me that it's overwhelming, the existing building.
03:16You know, it's interesting.
03:18I mean, it is the same height.
03:20I think you're familiar with the addition that we built to the Wilson building that you're in?
03:25Yes.
03:25So, you know, I mean, I bring it up because the size, this question of size and relationship of an addition to a historic building
03:36comes up with almost every project I've ever worked on over the last 40 years.
03:41And we're essentially doing the same thing here we did at the Wilson building.
03:45We're building an addition, although at the Wilson building it really contrasts, it's a very modern addition,
03:50and it contrasts very strongly to the neoclassical building.
03:53But even there, we matched the height.
03:55You know, we did match the height of the existing building.
03:58And, you know, I think it works quite well.
04:00And we've done that on many, many other structures.
04:03You know, we're just finishing up in addition to the Cannon building where we increased the height by one story.
04:08That was reviewed pretty extensively.
04:12And, you know, you could look at it.
04:14I mean, I think that, too, works really well with the original historic structure, despite the additional height.
04:24But my sense of it is that there are two levels here.
04:26One is, I'm going to say, the lower level, and then there's the ballroom level.
04:33And I can't remember what the height is.
04:36What is the height for the ballroom level?
04:37Well, if you measure it off the front driveway, where the portico is, of the White House,
04:43we're approximately 51 feet above that elevation.
04:48And that's roughly the level of the ballroom?
04:53I'm sorry, that's the roof of the ballroom.
04:55That's the height of the balustrade around our ballroom structure.
05:01I'm sorry, is that what you were asking?
05:02No, I think I'm not asking it well.
05:04The ballroom is going to be like a 20-foot ceiling, a 40-foot ceiling?
05:09It's about 38 to 40, yes.
05:11And could that be reduced?
05:15It's possible, not impossible.
05:17I had one other question, which I think is probably for Mr. Fisher, not you.
05:25And that is, why didn't the project come to us as a whole, instead of after the demolition?
05:30Thank you for that question.
05:36Yeah, we've begun work on this project.
05:40There are two phases to this project.
05:42I think that you've alluded to it with Shalom here.
05:45There are some things regarding this project that are, frankly, of top-secret nature that we are currently working on.
05:57That does not preclude us from changing the roof structure.
06:01But that work needed to be considered when doing this project, which was not part of the NCPC process.
06:12Let me note, just for the record, if it's okay with you, Commissioner, it's long been the view of NCPC's council's office that the National Capital Planning Act does not give us authority to review demolition or site preparation work.
06:28So while many projects do come before us at that stage, that's not a requirement of the National Capital Planning Act.
06:36And review of demolition is not something that we have the authority to do as a commission.
06:41I appreciate that, and I've actually read that legal opinion, and I'm not arguing with it.
06:46It's just that I don't know the last time that a project has been presented before NCPC or Zoning Commission or any of the planning agencies where it wasn't presented as a whole.
06:57Well, this is what we're going to do, and we will proceed with the demolition as we move forward, as opposed to here, where the demolition occurred first.
07:07The Air and Space Museum edition is one example of that, where they proceeded with demolition of the old edition, I believe, prior to presenting plans for the new edition to this commission.
07:17I think that's the nearest historical analogy.
07:20I could be wrong.
07:21I just want to conclude by, I have a lot of respect for Shalom Baranis.
07:28He's done a lot of great projects in the city over the decades, and I just want to acknowledge that.
07:36Thank you, Commissioner.
07:37Do any other commissioners have questions for the presentation, team?
07:40I have two questions.
07:42Yes, Commissioner Dixon.
07:43One, you kept mentioning stairways.
07:45I guess that's going to be helpful also, I'm assuming.
07:51You've mentioned stairways on the building.
07:53Yeah, the hand...
07:54They work or they're going to be handicapped, that's a lot, obviously.
07:57The primary handicap access into the Baldwin will be through the front door of the White House.
08:02Ah.
08:03So the other entrances will not accommodate, uh...
08:07The other stairways are there for egress purposes, for fire code purposes, and they are stairways, so a wheelchair would have to really go in the other direction.
08:18But I think that may be a concern, I would think.
08:20I mean, we want handicapped people to be able to egress, too.
08:24Oh, absolutely.
08:24No, no, believe me, we are looking very closely at all of that, all of the code.
08:29And secondly, um, there was, there hasn't been any discussion of the new security process that we used to go through.
08:37We have gone through with the, the labyrinth of different corridors to get cleared, to get into the White House.
08:45How is that going to be addressed in this process?
08:48I'm sure they'll let you in any time, but...
08:49No, uh, not then.
08:51I've been back for a while.
08:53Uh, thank you for the question, sir.
08:54We are currently looking at a new visitor's, uh, entry facility, uh, that would be part of this project.
09:02Uh, again, as we look at this, it's not just the East Wing modernization.
09:07It's not the ballroom.
09:08We are looking at a totality experience for the White House complex.
09:12Um, as I mentioned earlier, historically, when you come to the White House, you go through double-wide trailers, uh, tents, uh, out in the cold.
09:22Um, we don't think that that's befitting, uh, of, of what the White House should be, or could be, quite frankly.
09:29So, um, those plans are under, uh, review.
09:32Uh, we're trying to put them together, make sure that we've got our I's, I's dotted and our T's crossed before we bring them before this commission so that you guys can, uh, hopefully, uh, see and enjoy what we've produced.
09:45I think that, uh, it's a sensitive area to even put it, make it public how this process may work.
09:51But one of the detractors from the historical structures was the, uh, the complicated clearance process and then the, the hodgepodge, if you will.
10:01So I'm assuming you, how that will be handled, uh, in the future?
10:07Yes, sir.
10:07So we can look at that good.
10:08And I do hope we do something with the handicapped issue.
10:13Uh, thank you.
10:15Do any other commissioners have questions for, uh, the project team?
10:18Yes, commission, clarification from something that was presented.
10:21There was talk of adding potentially an additional level on the west wing side of the building.
10:25Is that to the west wing structure itself or just to the, uh, on top of the walkway?
10:31It would be just to the colonnade.
10:33Any other questions before we proceed to deliberations?
10:43Hearing none, uh, I'd like to thank, as always, our staff and, and, uh, uh, the presentation team here.
10:50Uh, Vice Chairman Levenbach, would you like to kick things off?
10:53I think what strikes me about it is, is, you know, and some people here, some of the commissioners have participated in White House events more than I have.
11:00But I'm struck at how much this expands the utility of the compound.
11:04I think about the Hanukkah party I just went to.
11:07You start at the north end of Lafayette Park, and you walk through one set of trailers, and you walk through another set of trailers, and there's a code check.
11:14And then when you get inside, it's pretty crowded, and there aren't that many people there.
11:18And this is going to just open up access to people at a much higher level, and I think that it's going to be enjoyed for generations to come.
11:26So I'm really excited to see how this project develops.
11:30Thank you, Vice Chairman Levenbach.
11:31Commissioner Blair.
11:34I would just say, I think that, um, you know, it looks like it's going to be very beautiful, but the utility, I think for those of us that spend a lot of time there, um, is fairly obvious.
11:45I, I, uh, I think Winston Churchill said to the House of Commons when they were going to rebuild it, uh, that, that we shape our buildings, and then they, and they shape us thereafter.
11:54Um, the White House is a special place, but people come there to gather and to work.
11:59I would tell you that we've seen times where simply doing something like getting the Congress together, uh, to have a meal and break bread is not something that the current structure of the White House really accommodates, uh, in any way with the President of the United States.
12:13That's, that's a problem. Um, when foreign dignitaries visit, you know, the President of the United States of any party invited all over the world and, and goes and gets to see the best of, uh, whatever the country has to offer.
12:26And I think the President's view would be that, uh, he would, he thinks the American people deserve that same opportunity, um, to, to have grand gatherings for visitors to our country and show them what America has to offer.
12:39So, uh, I think it has obvious utility. I think it's very considered in its design, and I look forward to seeing the, the progress of the project and appreciate your presentation and, um, look forward to working with you.
12:52Thank you, Commissioner. Administrator Forrest.
12:56Thanks very much, Chairman. James read from my notes, so I'm ready to have him on everything. Thank you.
13:01Thank you, Administrator Forrest. Commissioner Dixon.
13:05Uh, I appreciate the presentation and look forward as this moves, moves forward to more deliberation. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
13:13Thank you, Commissioner. Commissioner Mendelsohn.
13:17Yes. Uh, sorry, I was muted. Um, I, I am, um, let me, let me say that I think that the Elevation Race Office from Pennsylvania
13:26Avenue is not as disturbing to me as the Elevation from the Ellipse. And as I said in my questions,
13:32I'm concerned about this addition overwhelming the original historic building. Uh, I appreciate that, uh,
13:38the architectural Umberonis has really good taste with regard to dealing with historic structures,
13:44but I do think that, uh, it sounds to me like the height could be lowered without jeopardizing the footprint.
13:50Uh, I don't think that the footprint that is 88,000, 89,000 square feet should be the goal in and of itself.
13:59Um, so maybe it can be and needs to be shrunk a little bit more. Uh, again, looking at the elevations from
14:07the south, uh, it's just so, it's just so imbalanced. The other observation I have is that, uh,
14:16it is disturbing to me that we are looking at an addition to this historic structure, but we're
14:22looking at what appears to be an overall plan in a very segmented approach. So there are going to be
14:30some changes with the visitor center. There's going to be some changes with Lafayette park. There are going
14:34to be some changes with the west wing, but rather than looking at this as a whole, we're going to be
14:40looking at it piecemeal and that's concerning as well. Thank you, commissioner. Uh, commissioner
14:48Henderson? I would just suggest for those of us who don't work in that complex every day that it
14:54would probably be worthwhile and beneficial for our consideration to take some opportunities to go
14:59and see the site and see the facilities as they are, um, between now and, and future considerations.
15:05Thank you, commissioner. Uh, commissioner McGowan? I don't have any additional comments or questions,
15:14but thank you all so much for the presentation. It was very informative. Thank you, commissioner.
15:19Commissioner Cozart? Uh, yes, sir. Thanks for the work on this and, um, for the presentation,
15:26uh, and I feel forward to, uh, when it comes to the commission. Thank you, commissioner. Uh, commissioner
15:34Schaefer. So I, again, my thank you as well. This is, uh, it's exciting. Great job overall with the,
15:41with the architectural features and, uh, in, in looking forward to see how this progresses. As I, I echo the
15:49same comments, uh, as this come before me as well, because I think this is an, this is a great opportunity for
15:55us to, to, to continue to, to expand upon the importance of, of, of our, our entire nation. So
16:02thank you, commissioner. Commissioner Stidham. Thank you. Um, and thank you for the overview.
16:08It is really helpful to get a sense of the problem. Um, and I should leave with, uh, that secretary
16:14Bergen, who, uh, I sit as a delegated position here, um, and the department of the interior, uh, supports
16:21the east wing modernization without reservation. Um, we appreciate the design that we're showing
16:27here today, and we look forward to seeing more detail, um, especially when it comes to the landscaping,
16:34um, and understanding how the temporary facilities, um, will be, how the uses that are, that currently
16:42happen in those temporary facilities are taking, uh, shape in the, in the new facility. Yeah. To really
16:49understand how that replacement is taking place, um, as well as understanding clearly, you know,
16:55it's important those views that the, you know, anyone who's coming to visit who does not have
17:00the opportunity to be inside the fence, um, to be able to understand and to view the White House.
17:05And so understanding those views will be really helpful when you come back, as well as the design
17:11choices you make and the materiality. So we look forward to much more detail, um, and appreciate the overview.
17:17Thank you, Commissioner. Uh, Commissioner Argo.
17:21Um, I'd like to, um, um, I'd love to associate myself with, um, my next door neighbor's comments
17:34and, uh, seeing how this, you know, seeing how this progresses. Um,
17:40um, I have, uh, some concern about, um, size and scale and in, in, uh, a number of ways, but, um,
17:53we'll see, we can talk more about that as, as I said, as the design and the work on this progresses.
18:00Thank you. Thank you, Commissioner. Uh, speaking for myself, just a few things that I'd say, um,
18:09first of all, Commissioner, if you want to come over for lunch, you're, you're welcome anytime.
18:12I'm happy to have to show you around. Um, more seriously though, I think every project that
18:18comes, uh, is ultimately determined in large part, um, or, or is shaped in large part, uh,
18:26by its function. And I think it's worth emphasizing a point that Commissioner Blair made, uh, which is
18:33the vital nature of the function that I believe this project, uh, is intended, uh, to advance.
18:40Um, it's been a distinct honor for me to get to frankly travel around the world with the President
18:46and visit foreign countries and be hosted, uh, by the leaders of foreign countries. And I think it's
18:52notable that when the President of the United States of America flies to the United Kingdom,
18:57um, he's hosted at Windsor Castle. And when next year, uh, the, the king of the United Kingdom,
19:04uh, of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, uh, comes to the United States, more likely than not,
19:09he will be hosted on a, in a tent on the South Lawn with porta-potties. Um, that to me is not a good
19:17look for the United States of America. And I think that when you think about the long history
19:23of planning for a state ballroom on White House grounds, if you think about the number of times
19:27this project has been suggested historically, uh, it, it speaks to that programmatic need.
19:33Um, this isn't a new idea. Uh, uh, I've been interested to see that even in the press reports,
19:40uh, that have been, or the press articles that have been very, uh, I'd say agitated about the way
19:47that this project has progressed. Uh, there has been a recognition, uh, by previous occupants of
19:53the White House from both parties, people who have worked in the White House from both parties,
19:57uh, that there is a real programmatic need for a building like this.
20:01Uh, so I think what we're really talking about then, um, um, is a lot of the issues that Shalom
20:08in particular was addressing in his presentation, which is given the programmatic need, given
20:14the size that that programmatic need, uh, necessarily, um, requires for, for this project. Uh, how do we
20:22ensure that this project, um, accords with what we as a commission care about? Uh, how do we ensure
20:30that the view sheds, uh, that the way that the public will experience this building, um, won't detract
20:35from the way that the public experiences what I believe is one of the really two or three most
20:40important buildings in Washington DC and in the region that we have jurisdiction over, uh, which
20:45is the White House. Uh, I'd be interested to see more detailed elevations, um, particularly from the
20:51south, uh, in light of, uh, of Commissioner Mendelson's comments, what this would look like, um, with the
20:59tree line, uh, because I think that the, the elevation that we see there, just based on my knowledge of what
21:06the property looks like, um, that's very stark and I, I don't think really represents what, uh, how the
21:13public would experience this building. Um, I think it's important that framed between the White House, uh,
21:21and the Treasury Building, which is a building of significant massing, um, and I'd be interested to see
21:26an elevation that extends essentially further to the left, um, or further to the, the east, uh, to encompass sort of the full
21:33viewing experience, uh, from Pennsylvania Avenue. Um, and as many commissioners have said, I just look
21:39forward to seeing more details in the weeks and months ahead. Um, and I'd like to thank as always
21:44our staff, uh, for the, the, uh, collaboration, the work they've already put in on this issue. I think they
21:50can be a real resource to the project team, uh, particularly as you start thinking about, uh, the visitor
21:55experience, uh, visitor entrance, um, other aspects of, of the broader modernization of the White House
22:01complex and particularly how the public interacts with it. Um, but again, just speaking personally,
22:07I'm really excited to see how this project develops, uh, and I'm excited to, to hopefully see,
22:13uh, more detailed planning materials in, in the weeks and months ahead. Uh, so thank you. Um,
22:18are there any other commissioners that have questions or comments before we, uh, before we adjourn for the
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