Trump's 90,000-Square-Foot Ballroom Is Sized for a Convention Center

With the East Wing of the White House unceremoniously torn down in October, the scale of President Donald Trump’s plan to build a ballroom in its place is leaving experts puzzled. At 90,000 square feet, the new addition not only dwarfs the historic mansion; it’s also far more space than a ballroom typically needs to seat 1,000 guests. In fact, its size suggests something more like a convention center space, Kriston Capps writes.

Meanwhile, the $300 million price tag ($3,000 per square foot) is far beyond other such government projects. Neither Trump nor his contractors have submitted plans for review, as legally required, and the project’s details remain limited — save for a few top-line numbers and architectural renderings showing a single banquet hall with coffered ceilings, large chandeliers, Corinthian columns and gold trims throughout. Today on CityLab: Trump’s 90,000-Square-Foot Ballroom Plan Puzzles the Experts