Kennedy Center Extends Closure for a Week as Reopening Date Remains Uncertain
The top administrator at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Wednesday extended the venue’s closure for another week and said he would continue to reevaluate the shutdown weekly - raising the prospect of a closure that could stretch on indefinitely.
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has extended its closure for an additional week, with no definite reopening date in sight. Executive Director Matt Floca cited recent studies of roofing damage that could potentially endanger pedestrians, prompting the decision. U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper had previously ordered the center to submit a detailed report on the "temporary closure" and ongoing emergency repairs.
While the board, led by President Donald Trump, had already voted to close the main building for two years of renovations, Floca emphasized that the current shutdown is separate and was initiated due to immediate safety concerns. In a sworn declaration, Floca stated that he independently ordered most public areas to close for seven days, citing "acute risks to public safety" from deterioration within the aging building.
Lawmakers, including Rep. Joyce Beatty, have questioned this explanation, suggesting it may be a pretext to justify a permanent closure. Floca pointed to a 60-foot ceiling plaster fragment that fell during a September storm and highlighted water intrusion, corrosion, and other structural issues. He noted that the plaster weighed approximately 150 pounds.
Floca plans to continue assessing parts of the building with "severe structural deterioration" and reassess the closure weekly, potentially allowing limited public access if inspections deem certain areas safe.
Written by urgent.news from The Japan News by The Yomiuri Shimbun's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
