The excavators that tore down the East Wing of the White House in a few days in October took the public and professional builders by surprise. With the 123-year-old structure gone, the scale of President Donald Trump’s vision to replace it is leaving experts puzzled.
At 90,000 square feet — nearly two football fields — the new addition will dwarf the 55,000 square-foot mansion. It’s also far more space than would typically be needed for a ballroom for the 1,000 guests Trump has said he wants the new room to hold. Official drawings show an ornate banquet hall, but its size suggests something more like a convention center space or hotel conference center. Officials say the structure will also include offices and other facilities, but haven’t provided details.