(Washington) US President Donald Trump is considering building a floor above the White House colonnade as part of his plan to build a huge $400 billion ballroom, the architect in charge of the project said Thursday.
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The addition of a floor above the colonnade, located in the west wing, would create an effect of “symmetry”, assured Shalom Baranes to the capital planning commission, headed by a close friend of the president.
Plans for the ballroom already call for a two-story colonnade connecting the main White House building with the 1,000-seat ballroom in the opposite wing, where Trump plans to host foreign dignitaries and hold major events.
Shalom Baranes also specified that the new ballroom, for which Donald Trump ordered the destruction of the east wing, would be at the same height as the rest of the building, to preserve its historic proportions.
This is the first time that plans to modify the West Wing of the White House have been revealed.
The new floor would be located above the famous white colonnade, where American presidents have been photographed for decades strolling between the main residence and the Oval Office.
It would also be located above the press room where White House spokespeople speak to the media.
Donald Trump was criticized for demolishing the entire East Wing, which traditionally housed the first lady’s offices, without first consulting historical organizations or the Capital Planning Commission.
He also paved the “Rose Garden”, a lawn lined with roses which adjoins the Oval Office and which served as the setting for many ceremonies and official announcements.
The Republican named one of his advisers, Will Scharf, to head the Washington planning commission.
The cost of the ballroom has doubled since Donald Trump announced the project, plans for which were first revealed in July.
The White House had put forward the figure of 200 million dollars, but the American president declared in December that it could cost 400 million.
