Painting Eisenhower Building would diminish historic character of White House complex, report says

The AP reports that Trump has suggested the massive Eisenhower Executive Office Building be painted as part of his push to remake and beautify the nation's capital.[1] According to the AP, Trump last year said the building's gray exterior is a "really bad color."[2]The AP reports that the plan, estimated to cost at least $7.5 million, has alarmed preservationists, architects, historians and others who argue that granite is not meant to be painted and that paint would trap moisture and degrade the stone.[2]According to the AP, the building's architect, Alfred B. Mullet, hand-selected the construction materials, which "are central to the building's historic character and original design intent," the environmental assessment concluded.[1]The AP reports that the assessment found the EEOB and the Treasury building form a "visual hierarchy" at the seat of government, which has been in place for 125 years and would be disrupted by a paint job[1].According to the AP, the proposed white mineral silica paint is permeable enough that it would be unlikely to trap moisture and damage the stone, the report found.[1] The AP adds that preliminary tests suggested the paint could eventually be removed with minimal damage to the stone, but more testing is necessary[1].The AP reports that an alternative proposal to clean and restore the building while improving the exterior lighting would not affect its historic character, the report found.[3]