The American Institute of Architects is working hard to ensure our country's landmarks and historic buildings are protected, but we need your voice.
On April 16, the Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) will consider a proposal to paint bright white the historic granite exterior of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building (EEOB), a National Historic Landmark and one of the most significant examples of French Second Empire architecture in the United States. CFA advises on the aesthetics and design of the capital – separate from historic preservation and environmental review.
Despite a pending federal lawsuit, the White House is advancing this plan, which threatens to permanently alter the building's historic character and damage the stone itself.
Your voice matters-whether you are an expert or simply someone who values our shared history.
Please act before 4:00 PM on Wednesday, April 15 by clicking here.
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How You Can Help
Personalize your comment. CFA considers how projects affect the federal interest and the dignity of the capital as experienced by people. Tell commissioners how you experience the EEOB and its surroundings - whether as a DC resident, a visitor, a professional, or simply as an American citizen who values this civic space. Concrete, personal accounts of how you experience the visual relationship between the EEOB, the White House, and Lafayette Square are genuinely useful. If you have professional expertise in architecture, historic preservation, masonry, or related fields, say so - and apply it.
You may also attend and provide in-person comments at the Commission's April 16 meeting (401 F Street NW, Suite 312, Washington, DC; meeting begins at 9:00 AM). Individuals will be limited to three minutes; people representing organizations will be limited to five minutes. As a courtesy, please notify staff at cfastaff@cfa.gov by 4pm on the day before the meeting if you are requesting to provide oral comments during the meeting.
Find additional background and resources here: https://www.culturalheritagepartners.com/eeob/
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Brittany Meyer
The American Institute of Architects
Washington DC
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