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The White House’s proposed ballroom addition would rise more than 20 ft below the Executive Residence balustrade, according to updated elevation drawings headed to the National Capital Planning Commission for a March 5 vote.
The meeting takes place as below-grade construction advances and a federal judge weighs a request to halt the project entirely until federal review concludes.
North and south site elevation renderings submitted to the National Capital Planning Commission show the proposed White House State Ballroom (circled) sitting below the roofline of the White House Executive Residence.
Rendering courtesy of National Capital Planning Commission
Submission materials filed ahead of the NCPC vote show the proposed ballroom roof at approximately 88 ft, 11 in. above finished grade, compared with 113 ft, 11 in. at the White House balustrade and 122 ft, 11 in. at the roof ridge of the Executive Residence. In profile, the ballroom would sit materially lower than the historic structure it adjoins.
Sixteen simulated views from vantage points, including Pennsylvania Avenue, Lafayette Square, the Ellipse, the U.S. Capitol and the Jefferson Memorial model the project’s visibility across Washington’s monumental core. The materials were submitted in response to earlier requests from federal design reviewers for additional context on scale and sight lines.
By placing the ballroom roof more than 20 ft below the White House balustrade and more than 30 ft below the main roof ridge, the design seeks to preserve the Executive Residence’s visual dominance in long-range views. Federal design review typically evaluates whether new construction competes with or recedes from historic massing.
The commission’s action covers preliminary and final site and building plan approval, which governs compliance with federal planning requirements within the National Capital Region. Above-grade construction would require commission approval.
Demolition of the former East Wing was completed last fall. Subsurface work advanced under the administration’s interpretation that NCPC jurisdiction attaches at “vertical build.”
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In sworn declarations, National Park Service liaison John Stanwich stated that excavation was underway and that footings and structural concrete were expected to begin in January and February.
Below-grade foundation work is advancing while above-grade architectural massing remains under review. Satellite imagery reviewed Feb. 18 shows no visible vertical construction at the site. Above-grade construction has not begun.
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CFA Review Under Reconstituted Panel
Separately, the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, which evaluates architectural compatibility and visual impact on federal property, requested additional contextual materials and 3D modeling in January to assess massing and campus fit.
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East Wing Modernization Elevations Submission | National Planning Commission Materials
As previously reported, President Donald Trump removed all six CFA commissioners in October 2025. Five new members were sworn in earlier this year to restore a quorum, allowing the commission to resume formal review of the East Wing proposal.
The reconstituted panel is chaired by White House Staff Secretary Will Scharf. Its composition continues to shift during active deliberations. With one seat remaining vacant, the newest appointee is Chamberlain Harris, a 26-year-old White House aide scheduled to be sworn in Feb. 19. The Washington Post first reported that Harris has worked as an executive assistant in the White House and lacks a professional background in architecture or design.
CFA review focuses on height, massing and visual compatibility rather than construction sequencing.
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As ENR previously reported, the National Trust for Historic Preservation filed suit Dec. 12, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia seeking to halt the project.
The Trust’s motion for preliminary injunction asks the court to enjoin “any and all actions in furtherance of the physical development of the Ballroom Project,” including demolition, excavation and foundation work, until federal review and congressional authorization requirements are satisfied.
During a recent hearing, U.S. District Judge Richard Leon questioned whether the executive branch has independent authority to proceed with construction absent explicit congressional authorization. According to CNN, Leon appeared skeptical of the administration’s position and pressed government attorneys on the statutory basis for advancing the project without additional legislative approval.
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National Park Service, et al. | Defendants’ Motion to Stay
The government has moved to stay any injunction pending appeal and argues that below-grade work does not predetermine above-grade design. The dispute centers on whether the executive branch may fund and advance the ballroom project under existing authority or must first obtain explicit congressional approval.
The injunction motion remains pending.
Rendering courtesy of the National Capital Planning Commission (Submission Materials)×
