REVOLUTION HALL
Dimensions: 75’x150’x15’ all below ground level to maintain the historical White House profile
Simple, modern, high walls with faux arches similar in appearance to the visitors’ center
Used for major speeches, declarations of war, entertaining Congress, honoring foreign heads of state. Round seven seat and Square eight seat banquet tables are shown. Odd numbered seating at some tables can be very useful in DC, New York and San Francisco.
GERALD R. FORD GRAND STAIRCASE
Dimensions: 3 30’x’10’x5’ with 2 landings; the staircase and a reception would reclaim the East Wing entrance’s circular driveway
Crimson carpet with brass carpet rods. Crimson selected to align with the revolutionary theme.
A marquee feature required to overcome the fact the hall is below ground.
Five Star hotels in urban areas put banquet halls below ground, such as the St Regis in Aspen.
Visually stunning grand entrances for cameras. Foreign heads of state will drool over the opportunity.
EAST PAVILLION
Dimensions: 75’x150’x10’ (copula arches 5’-10’ higher)
Essentially a low-profile, wrought iron greenhouse with sparing use of skylights. Green wrought iron style chosen to camouflage the structure behind trees and landscaping and to appear as old as the White House.
Breezy, controlled access very large semi-outdoor space for the First Family and guests.
Informal dining, patio, light recreation, full-service pub, barbeque grill, steak fire pit, indoor/outdoor televisions mixed uses defined by flooring, furniture and design. Section designs could look like specific restaurants such as The 21 Club, Jean-Georges, The Polo Club or Jackson Hole Burgers. Perhaps a Trump Grill. Alternatively, the interior space could be mostly Texas, Los Angeles or resort patio designs. Miscellaneous furniture pieces are shown for scale.
The wall panels of the 150’ wall facing the lawn would be detachable, as would all wall panels of the central East Garden.
As the only cloistered family in the country, all former First Families have described the emotional challenges of being pent up in the White House. This large semi-outdoor space could mitigate that to a large degree and provide any number of informal areas (blue jeans, shorts) for the family to entertain, relax or exercise.
EAST CONSERVATORY
Dimensions 25’x’75’x10’ (copula arches 10’ higher and with skylights)
Located as the central space within the East Pavilion. The wrought iron wall panels could be removed opening the space to the surrounding quadrangle. The space would be at ground level or slightly elevated. Stepping up into a building, even with only a few steps, makes it more of an event.
This would be an artificial grass or real grass garden space for the First Family’s private use. It could also be used to replace Rose Garden press conferences. Artificial grass is more common and widely accepted than you may think at posh spas and resorts. The central arched rotunda would be 20 feet high with skylights.