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Project Information

8763: White House Visitor Screening Facility (Submitted by: )

Date:October 1, 2026
Agenda:Open Session
Requested:approval of final site and building plans
Action:NCPC then approved final site and building plans for a White House Visitor Screening Facility submitted by the Executive Office of the President in conjunction with the U.S. Secret Service and the National Park Service. The project would consist of a 33,000 square foot below-grade facility on the west side of Sherman Park and a 4,000 square foot at-grade exit facility on East Executive Avenue. It would replace existing temporary screening that takes place under tents with a permanent structure that would allow for more comfortable and efficient screening of visitor tours, large-scale event guests, White House staff, and contractors. Existing temporary security barriers would be removed.

The Commission praised the much-needed project that will improve the screening process for everyone with an attractive addition to the White House grounds. They commended the applicant for working with the review agencies and the Section 106 consulting parties to identify a more appropriate location and design approach for the facility that meets the applicant’s needs and minimizes impacts to historic resources.
 
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Date:September 3, 2026
Agenda:Open Session
Requested:approval of preliminary and final site and building plans
Action:NCPC approved preliminary site and building plans for a White House Visitor Screening Facility submitted by the Executive Office of the President in conjunction with the U.S. Secret Service and the National Park Service. The updated design now includes an entrance pavilion on the west side of Sherman Park; a 33,000 square foot underground facility where the screening would take place; and a 4,000 square foot exit building on East Executive Avenue.

Commissioners supported the project which would replace existing temporary screening that takes place under tents with a permanent structure that would allow for more comfortable and efficient screening of visitor tours, large-scale event guests, White House staff, and contractors. Existing temporary security barriers would be removed. They liked the relocation of the entry pavilion from the south side of Sherman Park to the west side because it will help minimize visual impacts and make the park function as a welcoming arrival space to the White House grounds. They requested that the applicant provide a landscape plan that identifies the proposed locations and species for replacement trees and other plantings in the final submission.
 
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Date:April 2, 2026
Agenda:Open Session
Requested:approval of comments on concept plans
Action:NCPC also provided comments on concept plans for a White House Visitor Screening Facility submitted by the Executive Office of the President. The project would consist of a below-grade
facility (approximately 33,000 square feet) with an entrance plaza on Sherman Park’s south side and a ground-level facility (4,000 square feet) on East Executive Avenue. The facility would provide a permanent solution to ensure the safety of White House complex visitors and workers by removing temporary trailers and tents. The underground facility would include seven screening lanes.

The Commission encouraged the applicant to explore opportunities to refine the ground-level facility’s design to be more compatible with its setting. Commissioners requested that the U.S. Secret Service work with NCPC early in its process to design a more permanent perimeter security for the entire White House complex in general, and around Sherman Park in particular; provide a landscape plan showing proposed new tree and landscape plantings; and provide proposed materials for the entrance area into the below-ground screening facility.
 
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The National Capital Planning Commission is the federal government's planning agency for the National Capital Region.

The 12-member Commission meets monthly to adopt, approve, or provide advice on plans and projects that impact the nation's capital and surrounding areas.

401 9th Street, NW
Suite 500N
Washington DC 20004
Phone: (202) 482-7200
Email: info@ncpc.gov
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