A Letter Regarding the White House East Wing Demolition
- 11 minutes ago
- 3 min read
March 03, 2026
National Capital Planning Commission
401 9th Street, NW
Suite 500N
Washington, DC 20004
Dear Commissioners:
I am writing on behalf of the staff, Board, and members of Rethos: Places Reimagined, a Minnesota-based nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring people to connect with their shared places through preservation, adaptation, and activation.
No other grand home in America holds an identity as widely shared as the White House. Although it is occupied by only a select few at any given time, it belongs to all of us. Our collective connection to this place lies in its layers of history, the actions of its famous residents, and its cultural prominence – an aura that has grown to near-mythic proportions.
It is therefore understandable that the American public has reacted strongly to the demolition of the historic East Wing and to the proposed design for the yet-to-be-constructed East Wing ballroom expansion.
Many of us believe that the initial process that permitted the demolition of the original East Wing did not meet the rigor expected of such an undertaking. Perhaps based more on long-standing customs than codified regulations, that process resulted in the irreplaceable loss of a large part of a national landmark. What follows in its place must unequivocally be an improvement – architecturally, historically, and symbolically.
As the NCPC proceeds with its review of the East Wing Modernization Project, I wish to highlight several specific, enforceable obligations that guide your authority. The Commission is required to: review proposals for consistency with the Comprehensive Plan for the National Capital; advise the submitting agency; approve or disapprove construction with respect to location, height, bulk, number of stories, size, and the provision of open space; and fulfill its obligations under the National Environmental Policy Act.
My thirty-year career in historic preservation has consistently demonstrated that a thorough and iterative design review process makes for better projects – both for applicants/owners and for the communities affected by the project. With careful attention to architectural context, detailing, and the broader impacts on surrounding spaces, design proposals can evolve in ways that meet contemporary needs while honoring heritage and human conditions.
In its current form, the proposed East Wing Modernization does not achieve that balance. The expansion is out of scale with the historic residence and visually unbalanced in comparison with the West Wing. The proposed facade’s exuberant classical detailing risks overshadowing the refined classicism of the White House itself, reversing the intended hierarchy of the complex. Continued refinement is needed so that emphasis remains on the White House Residence – the beating heart of the Executive complex.
I would also like to express concern regarding the fencing currently surrounding President’s Park. This landscape, owned by the American people, should remain visually and physically accessible to as broad an extent as security needs will allow. Although the current fencing appears temporary, it has restricted public views of the monuments, grounds, and landscapes that should remain shared national assets. The proposed East Wing construction, with its considerable height and massing, would further compromise these views and impact this historic landscape. This is another reason why the East Wing Modernization proposal needs further refinement. I also strongly urge you not to approve any permanent fencing that prevents public access from President’s Park.
Please undertake a thoughtful, rigorous review and further refinement of this proposal to ensure that the White House and Presidents Park retain their historic integrity well into the next 250 years.
Sincerely,
Erin Hanafin Berg
Deputy Director & Policy Director
Rethos: Places Reimagined
