Preserve RI's Public Comment on the Eisenhower Paint Job

The Eisenhower Executive Office Building (Photo: Jeff Krause)

May 6, 2026 

Mr. William Scharf 

Chair 

National Capital Planning Commission 

401 Ninth Street NW, Suite 500N 

Washington, DC 20004 

Re: Proposed Eisenhower Executive Office Building Exterior Beautification Project NCPC File Number 8777

Dear Mr. Scharf: 

Preserve Rhode Island (Preserve RI) serves as the statewide advocate for Rhode Island’s historic places. Our advocacy efforts extend beyond the borders of our state when the interests of Rhode Islanders are at stake. The Eisenhower Executive Office Building, a National Historic Landmark, stands as a structure of great importance to the United States and greatly contributes to the cultural heritage of both the Nation and the District of Columbia. On behalf of Rhode Island, we respectfully submit the following comments regarding the Office of the Executive Residence’s proposal to paint the façade of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.

The Eisenhower Executive Office Building has long been threatened with subsequent alterations and even demolition throughout the building’s 138 years. Upon its completion in 1888, after 17 years of construction, its monumental French Second Empire style had fallen largely out of favor. Throughout the years, plans had been made to replace the building’s façade with Classical elements and the building even faced demolition in 1957 when President Eisenhower’s Advisory Committee on Presidential Office Spaces recommended a modern office facility. Despite this, the building has remained standing and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1969. It was then recognized by the National Capital Planning Commission in their National Register Nomination form in 1972 as “one of the country’s few remaining examples of French Renaissance Revival architecture on a monumental scale… the Executive Office Building has been associated with men, events, and decisions of incalculable historical importance to the Nation. It must be preserved.”

Rhode Islanders themselves are not unfamiliar with the Second Empire style that had stood as the basis for civic architecture during the late 19^th century. Providence’s own city hall, built in 1878 in the French Second Empire style, closely resembles the Executive Office Building on a much smaller scale. However, this building almost met a similar fate and was threatened with demolition in the 1960s. This fortunately never occurred and the building was listed to the National Register of Historic Places and has since been lovingly restored and continues to serve as the city’s head of government.

We ask the Planning Commission to deny the proposal to paint the Eisenhower Executive Office Building and restore the building’s façade without painting. During the Commission of Fine Arts review meeting, 900 comments were submitted by renowned preservation professionals with 100% disapproval, all of whom unanimously agreed that the proposed Mineral Silicate paint, or any paint should not be used. Under the National Historic Preservation Act, this proposed painting violates the Secretary of Interior ‘s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties under preservation, rehabilitation, and restoration, all of which specifically address painting masonry.

These standards and guidelines remain a Federal standard when reviewing and addressing any work that is needed to listed historic properties, particularly those of not only National Register properties, but properties of National importance and the Eisenhower Executive Office Building is not exempt from these review standards.

Painting this building will negatively affect and severely damage its granite façade. It should not ‘blend’ into the White House complex as what the Executive Office of the President seeks to accomplish. Rather, we should embrace the building for its uniqueness, restore it to its splendor, and allow the Eisenhower Executive Office Building to proudly stand out as the National Historic Landmark that it is.

Respectfully, 

Sheryl Hack 

Executive Director Preserve Rhode Island