Trump painting plan would harm historic White House complex, report finds

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 17 Oct, 00:32 · Archive

A draft environmental assessment concludes that painting the 19th-century Eisenhower Executive Office Building next to the White House would diminish the complex's historic character.

President Trump's proposal to paint the Eisenhower Executive Office Building next to the White House would diminish the historic character of the White House complex, according to a draft environmental assessment released on Friday by the Trump administration.

The plan, estimated to cost at least $7.5 million, has alarmed preservationists, architects and historians. They argue that granite is not meant to be painted and that paint would trap moisture and degrade the stone. The Eisenhower building and the Treasury building on the other side of the White House form a 'visual hierarchy' that has been in place for 125 years and would be disrupted by painting, the report said. The building's architect, Alfred B. Mullet, hand-selected the construction materials, which 'are central to the building's historic character and original design intent'.

The Trump administration's assessment found that the proposed white mineral silica paint is permeable enough that it would be unlikely to trap moisture and damage the stone. Preliminary tests suggested the paint could eventually be removed with minimal damage, though more testing is necessary. An alternative proposal to clean and restore the building while improving exterior lighting would not affect its historic character, the report concluded.

How it is being reported

• Painting Eisenhower Building would diminish historic character of White House complex, report saysA draft environmental assessment finds that President Donald Trump's plan to paint a 19th-century landmark office building next to the White House could harm its historic character.Clickorlando · 17 Oct, 00:07
• Painting Eisenhower Building would diminish historic character of White House complex, report saysA draft environmental assessment finds that President Donald Trump's plan to paint a 19th-century landmark office building next to the White House could harm its historic character.News4Jax · 17 Oct, 00:07

In this story: Donald Trump · Eisenhower Executive Office Building · White House · Alfred B. Mullet · Treasury building

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