AIA Condemns Demolition of the White House East Wing and Calls for Transparency in Public Architecture

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) affirms with deep concern that the full demolition of the White House East Wing stands in direct contradiction to earlier public assurances that the project “will be near it, but not touching it and it will pay total respect to the existing building.” This undertaking calls into question not only the integrity of the architecture involved, but the transparency, process and public stewardship that underlie our civic built environment.

“The White House is not simply another building; it is the People’s House, a living symbol of democracy and national identity.”

As set forth in our August 5, 2025 statement and letter to the Committee for the Preservation of the White House, AIA urged rigorous oversight in recognition that the White House is not simply another building; it is the People’s House, a living symbol of democracy and national identity. We recommended a project governed by the highest standards of design excellence: a qualifications-based selection of the architect, alignment with historic-preservation standards, full transparency in funding and procurement, proportionality of design to the existing complex, and collaboration with expert practitioners to safeguard longevity and public value.
 

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The demolition of the East Wing without full public engagement or clarity undermines the very process that the design and preservation professions developed to protect our civic architecture. Public architecture requires open decision-making, meaningful opportunity for citizen participation, and a design process rooted in stewardship of heritage as well as service to future generations. When these processes are sidestepped, trust is eroded, and the public dimension of architecture is diminished.

The AIA reiterates that architects bring a commitment to how communities are seen, how history is respected, how public investment is honored, and how places reflect the people they serve. The White House — its form, setting, and meaning — deserves that care.

We call on decision-makers to halt any further irreversible alteration of the historic fabric, to publish full documentation of the project’s scope, budget, schedule and procurement path, and to reopen meaningful engagement with the professional community and the public. 

Only by returning to a process grounded in transparency, preservation and excellence can the People’s House continue to reflect their values.