The State Dining Room in the White House seats 140. The larger East Room, at the same density, would seat about 240. A reasonable size for a new, third dining room, let’s call it the Banqueting Hall, would be large enough to seat, say, 500. Assuming a two-square plan, that would be a room 55 by 110 feet, which happens to be about the same size as Inigo Jones Banqueting House in Whitehall. That room is a double cube, which is one of the things that makes it so beautiful (see above). The White House Banqueting Hall would need a 55 foot ceiling, and be designed to be likewise an exquisite jewel. That would in part justify the unpardonable demolition of the East Wing.
Have plans for East Wing replacement been published and commented on by architects? Will there be an attempt to harmonize the new hall with other parts of the White House? Why do you believe demolition of the East Wing is unpardonable, and do you believe the new hall will be “an exquisite jewel?”
A judge has recently ruled that the plans for the new East Wing must be submitted to NCPC and CFA for review before the end of the year. The judge has also said that if the plans are not submitted, he will order the foundations that are currently under construction to be removed. We shall see what happens.