The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts on Feb. 19 approved a proposal for a new White House ballroom, advancing a major renovation project at the executive residence.
The commission—whose members were appointed by President Donald Trump—was originally scheduled to only review and discuss the ballroom’s design, planned for the site of the former East Wing. Instead, six of the seven commissioners voted to approve the proposal. Commissioner James McCrery abstained, citing his prior involvement as the project’s original architect.
Before the vote, commission chairman Rodney Mims Cook Jr. praised the plan.
“Our sitting president has actually designed a very beautiful structure,” he said. “The United States just should not be entertaining the world in tents.” Large outdoor tents are erected on the White House grounds for events that exceed the building’s interior capacity….
US Commission of Fine Arts Approves White House Ballroom Proposal
