Kennedy Center Board to Review Renovation Options After Court Blocks Full Shutdown
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The Kennedy Center’s board will meet Thursday to consider three renovation proposals following a judge’s order that halted a plan for a two-year full closure.
The board of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is scheduled to convene Thursday to evaluate three alternatives for addressing the venue’s aging infrastructure. Management will present options that range from a complete two-year shutdown to a partial closure that keeps some spaces open, and a phased approach that targets only the most critical repairs while maintaining a full program schedule.
U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper previously blocked the board’s March 16 vote for a full closure, describing the decision as “ill-informed and seemingly preordained.” The judge has also requested updates on the duration of a tarp covering the former location of President Donald Trump’s name on the building.
Kennedy Center executive director and chief operating officer Matt Floca has cited extensive water damage, corroded steel and outdated chillers as evidence that the facility requires substantial work. He told reporters that his recommendation to the president was to close the center for two years to complete the renovations efficiently.
Board trustee Pamella Roland DeVos, appointed by Trump, emphasized the center’s mission to serve all Americans and said the board takes that responsibility seriously.
The meeting comes amid broader disputes over Trump-era changes to federal properties in Washington, D.C., including halted construction projects at the White House and the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.