The DC Preservation League (DCPL) is a nonprofit organization based in Washington, DC, dedicated to preserving and protecting the District’s historic resources. Founded in 1971 as “Don’t Tear It Down” to save the Old Post Office building on Pennsylvania Avenue from demolition, the League has consistently worked to ensure that proposed new developments and the adaptive reuse of historic buildings do not compromise the character of this great city.
DCPL appears today to express serious concerns and strong opposition to the current mass and proportions of the proposed East Wing addition to The White House. While the current Administration has emphasized the need for modernization and functionality for this important addition to The White House grounds, the proposed design strays far from the most fundamental principle of historic preservation, which dictates that new additions to historic buildings should be deferential and should allow the primary structure’s significance to remain intact.
The scale of the proposed new construction raises significant concerns as it dwarfs the Executive Residence. The original spaces within The White House were designed to convey a sense of proportion and intimacy, which are vital to the building’s charm and historical significance. In contrast, the proposed East Wing addition is disproportionately large and impersonal, and will detract from the dignified atmosphere that has characterized presidential events for centuries. This stark shift in design reflects a troubling impulse directed to grandiosity that would prioritize spectacle over the subtleties of the history and image of our country.
Questions also arise regarding the proposed east colonnade’s attachment to the Executive Residence. Currently, there is no known demolition plan that is publicly available, leaving it unclear whether access to the proposed second floor of the colonnade would be through the existing central door or through enlarging it to engulf and remove the historic windows and pediments to the south.
The proposed changes raise important questions about the stewardship of The White House. Preserving the integrity of the Executive Residence is not merely about maintaining its physical structure but also providing for public input and transparency on proposed modifications to this highly symbolic building. Through a substantially secretive process, depriving the public of reasonable and meaningful participation, for the sake of grandiose expansion, we risk erasing the very essence of what makes The White House a leading symbol of American history.
DCPL acknowledges the need for facilities that meet modern requirements, but we believe such decisions must be approached with the utmost respect for history and context. The proposed addition, in its current form, not only violates established norms of historic preservation by overshadowing the historic structure, but it also risks diluting the rich heritage that The White House represents. The argument that the scale of the proposed new construction is compatible because of the scale of adjacent structures like the Treasury and the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, is a specious one. Further, the argument that erecting tents on the South Lawn diminishes the integrity of the historic landscape with only temporary and reversible impacts does not appropriately acknowledge the profound and permanent impacts of the proposed East Wing addition.
For more than fifty years, DCPL has served as the leading voice for the preservation of Washington, DC’s architectural heritage and possesses the expertise and responsibility to identify adverse impacts on historic resources. Based on that expertise, we conclude unequivocally that the current proposal would harm the integrity, character, and setting of The White House complex and President’s Park.
Mr. Chairman, at the last hearing, you lobbied your fellow commissioners about the need for a space to host foreign dignitaries. You held forth on King Charles hosting events at Windsor Castle, while American Presidents host their guests under a tent. I’ll remind the commissioners that there is no monarchy in the United States, and this country doesn’t have castles that are 950 years old. We do, however, have a classically inspired, palatial ballroom that the federal government owns, mere blocks from The White House – it’s called the Mellon Auditorium. It accommodates 1,000 guests and was recently restored at great expense to the tax payer.
The Commission has received thousands of public comments from residents and experts opposing the size of this project. Do not ignore the public sentiment for an addition that is respectfully deferential to the historic landmark, and compatible with The White House Complex and President’s Park.
