Do Not Paint Granite!
The latest Trump renovation project would violate a basic rule of building maintenance.
Since November, President Donald Trump has been advocating for the painting of the gray granite Dwight D. Eisenhower Executive Office Building (EEOB), located adjacent to the White House, because he believes the structure should be white as well. However, historic preservationists have vehemently opposed this proposal, arguing that painting granite is detrimental to the stone and necessitates costly upkeep.
This looming project has been overshadowed by larger initiatives, such as the White House ballroom and a 250-foot triumphal arch. It must be noted that the EEOB, with its imposing mansard roof and polished granite facade, is a National Historic Landmark that reflects the architectural prowess of the Gilded Age and has played a pivotal role in American history.
The preservationists argued that painting granite inflicts irreversible physical damage and demands continuous maintenance, rendering the initiative financially and aesthetically impractical. A federal judge has intervened, restraining the Trump administration from undertaking test patches of paint on the EEOB until the court decides on the underlying issues.
Nonetheless, the EEOB's demolition was impeded by the expense, and, starting in the 1960s, architects and historians hailed the building as a Victorian masterpiece. Trump's disdain for the building's color stems from his assertion that gray is "for funerals," and he contends that white would be more appropriate. However, painting the EEOB could render it even more visually imposing than its neighbor, the White House.
A "magic paint" purportedly developed by Trump's team, claimed to avoid traditional paint issues, faced skepticism from 25 technical experts who refuted its effectiveness. Despite the controversy, the plan remains in effect due to the involvement of certain institutions, including the Commission of Fine Arts (CFA), under the sway of the White House.
The CFA, an independent federal agency that reviews major Washington, D.C. construction projects, has shifted its approach under Trump's administration, with members appointed by the president and often following his directives. The commission's April deliberation on the EEOB proposal exemplified this shift, with Vice Chair James C. McCrery II acknowledging the increased maintenance needs but downplaying the issue.
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