Talk

White House Ballroom: A Contextual Analysis of the Design Proposal

Jul 21, 2026

+ Add to Calendar 2026-07-21 18:00:00 2026-07-21 20:00:00 America/New_York White House Ballroom: A Contextual Analysis of the Design Proposal The White House is a National Landmark, owned by the American people and stewarded by the National Park Service, a status that places any significant addition to it in a different category from ordinary construction. Join the AIA New York Historic Buildings Committee for a panel discussion examining the proposed White House ballroom through the lens of architectural precedent and historic context. The analysis will draw on a webinar presented by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, curr Center for Architecture 536 LaGuardia Pl. New York NY 10012

Jul 21, 2026

South Elevation of the White House drawing as part of the “East Wing Modernization" prepared by Shalom Baranes Architects, submitted to the Commission of Fine Arts.

Tuesday, 7/21, 6pm - 8pm

Location

Center for Architecture

Price

In-Person - AIANY Member: Free
In-Person - Student with Valid ID: Free
In-Person - General Public: $15

Images

The White House is a National Landmark, owned by the American people and stewarded by the National Park Service, a status that places any significant addition to it in a different category from ordinary construction. Join the AIA New York Historic Buildings Committee for a panel discussion examining the proposed White House ballroom through the lens of architectural precedent and historic context. The analysis will draw on a webinar presented by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, currently the primary plaintiff in the ongoing litigation over the project.

David Scott Parker, FAIA, a trustee of the National Trust, will present graphic observations based on careful review of the available drawings, along with alternative approaches. Parker will share strategies that bring sensitivity to the symbolic architecture and landscape of the nation's best-known historic residence and its impact on the urban design of Washington, D.C. The panel will situate the ballroom within the longer history of White House expansions, offering attendees a grounded, architecturally informed framework for understanding what is being proposed, how it compares to precedent, and what alternatives might look like.

Speaker:
David Scott Parker, FAIA, Principal, David Scott Parker Architects

About the Speaker:
Since 1989 David Scott Parker has been the principal of David Scott Parker Architects, a multi-faceted firm with broad experience working on cultural institutions, preservation, and adaptive use renovations, as well as major residential commissions across the United States. His passion for preservation and design excellence has been the engine that has driven the firm’s many achievements including recognition by more than 50 state, regional and national awards. An authority in the field of historic preservation and American decorative arts, David generously gives his time to numerous charitable organizations, including currently as a Trustee of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.