Call to Action: Urge NCPC to Oppose Painting EEOB

Dear Champions of the EEOB: 

On May 7, the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) will consider a proposal to paint the entire historic granite exterior of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building (EEOB). While our lawsuit contends that this project is illegally before NCPC at this time, we will provide substantive responses to the proposal and ask experts and members of the public toweigh in on the dangers of this project, which would permanently harm and alter a National Historic Landmark.   The NCPC, when acting lawfully, plays a central role in reviewing and shaping federal plans and projects that impact the design, preservation, and development of Washington, DC, and the surrounding National Capital Region. NCPC’s mission is to preserve and enhance the extraordinary historical, cultural, and natural resources of the National Capital region. Despite our pending federal lawsuit and the 900 public comments to the Commission on Fine Arts (100% of which opposed the project), the White House continues to advance this plan. They have submitted the same proposal to NCPC as to CFA, with no additional details or planning specifications.  

Your voice matters—whether you are an expert or simply someone who values our shared history.  

Please act before 12:00 PM on Wednesday, May 6. 

NCPC Graphic Illustrating Current Concept Review Stage

How You Can Help 

1. Review the sample comment below. 

2. Find additional background and resources here: https://www.culturalheritagepartners.com/eeob/

3. Personalize your comment if possible. 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. The more personal your comment is, the more power it holds. 

4. Email your comment to info@ncpc.gov (NCPC requests in a PDF format, if possible) and bcc info@culturalheritagepartners.com so that we have proof of submissions if needed later.

Optional: You may also register to speak at the Commission’s May 7th meeting (either virtually or in person).

• The meeting will be held at 401 9th Street, NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20004; meeting begins at 1:00 PM).  

• Individuals will be limited to three minutes; people representing organizations will be limited to five minutes.  

• If you wish to speak at the meeting, you must register online by May 6 at 12 pm.  You must email a PDF copy of your written testimony to info@ncpc.gov by the same deadline and if you are representing an organization, you must also send a letter from the organization confirming that you are its designated representative. 

Sample Comment: 

Dear Commissioners, I urge the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) to oppose the plan to paint the EEOB. Painting this iconic gray granite building white would permanently destroy the visual balance of one of America’s most important civic landscapes and irreparably harm this important National Historic Landmark. The building's gray granite is not an accident or a deficiency to be corrected; it is a deliberate and celebrated design choice that has defined this part of the capital for more than 135 years. The EEOB was designed to showcase the natural texture and tonal variation of its granite and these character defining features are key reasons the EEOB was designated as a National Historic Landmark. Paint would obscure the craftsmanship and detail that define its historic design. Moreover, the gray stone of the EEOB and of the Treasury Building bookend and highlight the stark white of the White House. Painting the EEOB, which is far larger than the White House, the same color will eliminate the White House’s visual distinction. Granite is not meant to be painted. To apply paint, the surface must be abraded so the coating can adhere. Once applied, the paint traps moisture within the stone. Over time, that moisture causes cracking, flaking, and degradation of the surface. And critically, once paint is applied to historic masonry, it cannot be removed without further damaging the stone. The Office of the President has proposed using so-called “mineral silicate” paints. But these coatings are effective on materials like limestone and sandstone—not granite, which lacks the chemistry required for proper bonding. In fact, many of the world’s leading experts in stone conservation, historic materials, and preservation science have been surveyed on this plan and agree such paints may perform even worse on granite than conventional paint, and painting the EEOB’s granite will cause lasting damage to the building. The federal government’s own longstanding guidance warns against painting historic granite for precisely these reasons. Moreover, this project would create permanent maintenance and management challenges for the EEOB, exponentially increasing the building’s cost to the American taxpayer. Given the size and complexity of the building, painting the granite would require scaffolding erected against the building the vast majority of the time and would lead to massive ongoing maintenance costs over the building’s current requirements. In addition, white paint would highlight environmental staining and weathering far more than the existing granite, creating need for more frequent cleaning.There are better, well-established alternatives to enhance the beauty of this National Historic Landmark. Cleaning and repointing have successfully restored and brightened the building’s exterior in the past without damaging the stone—when done using methods approved in the Secretary of Interior's guidance. Other options for beautification include modernized architectural lighting and landscaping. I support preservation approaches that enhance the building while respecting established standards. Please deny the concept design for painting the EEOB white.Thank you for your consideration.  [Name] [Affiliation if relevant]