Kennedy Center foyer ceiling partially collapses, prompting renewed renovation calls
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A ceiling section fell in the Kennedy Center's main foyer on Friday, injuring no one, and officials cited the incident as evidence for accelerating a planned $250 million renovation.
A portion of the ceiling in the Kennedy Center's grand foyer collapsed on Friday evening, leaving a large hole and debris on the red carpet but causing no injuries, according to Roma Daravi, the venue's vice president for public relations. The incident occurred during a period of stormy weather in Washington.
Daravi posted photos of the damage on social media and said the collapse highlighted the need to proceed with a two-year, $250 million renovation that the center's board has been seeking. > "The reality is, the place is falling apart and @realDonaldTrump wants to fix it," she wrote. > "There is no legitimate reason to further halt the renovations. The longer the delay, the worse the infrastructure gets," she added.
The board, which supports adding President Donald Trump’s name to the center’s façade, has been pursuing court approval to close the venue for the extensive upgrades. A federal judge previously ordered the removal of Trump’s name from the building and blocked a shutdown for renovations.
Community activist Grace Terpstra of the group Keep the KC warned that the board might use the incident to push for a full closure, saying she expects the organization to amplify the issue.
The Kennedy Center has also recently removed a large outdoor sculpture, citing stewardship of the artist’s work, though no specific reason was given for its removal.