Trump proposal to paint Eisenhower building sparks review | JQJO

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump proposed painting the 19th-century Eisenhower Executive Office Building white, and the National Capital Planning Commission is scheduled to consider the plan on Thursday. The repainting is part of broader White House efforts to change exterior appearances and grounds, including a proposal to raze the East Wing for a 1,000-person ballroom and renovations at Lafayette Park. White House official Josh Fisher told the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts that the administration prefers painting most or all of the EEOB because the gray granite is stained and in "great disrepair." The White House also offered an alternative to paint most of the building while leaving the granite base unpainted.

Preservationists, architects and historians have raised alarms, arguing that granite is not meant to be painted, that paint can trap moisture and accelerate deterioration, and that the treatment would permanently alter the historic façade. Hundreds of pages of public comment submitted to the planning commission were overwhelmingly opposed, and members of the Society of Architectural Historians urged rejection. Commission staff recommended supporting a cleaning but said more information is needed to evaluate painting proposals, including evidence of paint products used successfully on exterior granite and alternatives such as cleaning or improved lighting; the EEOB is a National Historic Landmark and a lawsuit challenging the proposal is pending in federal court. The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts directed White House officials to return with paint-test results.