© EPA-EFE/WILL OLIVER A fresh addition is planned for the White House.
The government of Donald Trump stated on Thursday that it is contemplating the addition of another story to the West Wing of the presidential mansion for the sake of “balance,” amidst the reconstruction of the grand hall in the East Wing, as reported by The Hill.
“We’re mulling over the concept of a discreet single-story augmentation to the West Wing,” mentioned architect Shalom Baranes during a Thursday presentation to the National Capital Region Planning Commission (NCPC).
“The rationale behind our consideration is to reestablish equilibrium around the central area of the White House. We haven’t examined it in great depth yet. We haven’t executed anything yet, but we’re hopeful to do so down the line,” he elaborated.
During the presentation, Baranes pointed out that building operations in the East Wing encompass the formation of the First Lady’s suite, a screening room, and event space.
Baranes, who succeeded James McCrary as the designer of the White House Grand Hall, appeared before the NCPC a few months after laborers initiated deconstruction of the East Wing in order to undertake the renovation.
In December, the National Trust for Historic Preservation took legal action against the Trump administration, asserting that the initiative was launched “without obtaining consent from Congress; without presenting it to and securing approval from federal commissions responsible for supervising the capital’s development; without undertaking required environmental evaluations; and without affording the public any opportunity to participate in the discussion.”
The judge turned down the organization’s appeal for a provisional ban after White House officials pledged to retroactively seek federal consent for the initiative. A session regarding the preliminary injunction is slated for the following week.
The preceding month, the National Park Service issued a document concluding that the venture would have a “limited effect” on the historical landmark, where the East Wing is presently undergoing dismantling to create space for the grand hall.
The undertaking is being funded by private contributors, its price tag is projected at $400 million, and completion is anticipated by 2028.