Over the summer, he announced that a $200 million ballroom designed by McCrery Architects was set to begin construction on White House grounds, specifically where the East Wing stands today. McCrery Architects PLLC Via The White House A rendering of the new White House ballroom by McCrery Architects. Meanwhile, the exterior will be “almost identical” to the neoclassical architecture of the White House, per a statement from the White House press office. The White House // Getty Images An elaborate tent is temporarily installed for large events at the White House, like the 2009 State Dinner for Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Trump’s desire to build a ballroom at the White House dates back to at least 2010, when he lobbied Obama advisor David Axelrod without success.