Architect warns White House ballroom is inflated as federal panel weighs plans

An architect on the National Capital Planning Commission warns the proposed 90,000-square-foot White House ballroom is inflated, noting the 22,000-square-foot space could be reduced to about 15,000 square feet for 1,000 guests and criticizing unnecessary features like a 4,000-square-foot porch, with concerns the addition would overwhelm the mansion and affect sightlines along Pennsylvania Avenue as NCPC prepares to vote on the plan amid ongoing lawsuits.