White House Unveils Detailed Plans for Trump Ballroom and East Wing Renovation

The new East Wing will include a ballroom, office space, and a two-story colonnade.

Feb. 14, 2026 at 2:47am

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The White House has presented its most detailed plans yet for the East Wing renovation, including new renderings of the neoclassical structure and its relation to other buildings on the White House campus. The nearly 90,000-square-foot addition will house a ballroom, office space, and a two-story colonnade, and is being built to roughly the same height as the existing executive residence.

Why it matters

The East Wing renovation is part of President Trump's vision to expand and modernize the White House complex. The project has faced some scrutiny over the demolition of the existing East Wing structure, which officials say was necessary due to structural limitations that did not allow for modifications.

The details

The new East Wing will be slightly taller than the adjacent Treasury building, and the plans include boxwood hedges and brick pavers lining the building's east side. The demolition of the existing East Wing was described as "methodical" rather than "sudden catastrophic destruction," though the public was not notified prior to the demolition. The administration also plans to upgrade the park grounds surrounding the White House and replace the current visitor security checkpoint trailer.

  • The National Capital Planning Commission will evaluate the plans at a hearing in early March 2026.
  • The East Wing was razed in October 2025.

The players

Josh Fisher

Director of White House management and administration, who wrote a 9-page letter to the National Capital Planning Commission detailing the plans for the East Wing renovation.

Shalom Baranes

The architect who provided the renderings of the new East Wing.

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What they’re saying

“Demolition of the existing East Wing structure and reconstruction of a new East Wing provided the most effective solution to many longstanding issues affecting the White House and delivered the best long-term risk reduction.”

— Josh Fisher, Director of White House management and administration

What’s next

The National Capital Planning Commission will evaluate the detailed plans for the East Wing renovation at a hearing in early March 2026.

The takeaway

The East Wing renovation is a significant project that aims to modernize and expand the White House complex, though the demolition of the existing structure has raised some concerns. The detailed plans presented by the White House provide a glimpse into the future of the iconic presidential residence.