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In reply to the discussion: I just did a Google Maps measurement of the White House grounds [View all]usonian
(21,949 posts)36. Satellite shows what's really happening at the East Wing of the White House
https://arstechnica.com/space/2025/10/satellite-shows-whats-really-happening-at-the-east-wing-of-the-white-house/
This image taken Thursday from a SkySat Earth observation satellite shows that the East Wing of the White House is gone. Credit: Planet Labs PBC

This image taken Thursday from a SkySat Earth observation satellite shows that the East Wing of the White House is gone. Credit: Planet Labs PBC

Eyes always above
Without press access to see the demolition firsthand, it fell to a camera hundreds of miles above the White House to see what was really happening at the East Wing. Planet Labs released an image taken Thursday morning from one of its SkySat satellites showing the 123-year-old annex leveled.
What became known as the East Wing was first constructed in 1902 and was then rebuilt in 1942 during the Franklin Roosevelt administration to create more office space and provide cover for a bunker during World War II. In modern presidencies, the East Wing was typically home to the first ladys staff.
Planet Labs, based in San Francisco, operates a fleet of hundreds of small Earth-imaging satellites mapping the planet every day. The company sells its imagery to commercial customers and the US government, including intelligence agencies, which use the imagery to augment the surveillance capabilities of more exquisite government-owned spy satellites.
...
The SkySat satellite used for Thursdays examination of the White House flies at an altitude of approximately 295 miles (475 kilometers). It can capture imagery with a resolution of about 20 inches (50 centimeters) per pixel. Planet Labs owns 15 SkySats, each with three overlapping 5.5-megapixel imaging sensors fitted under a downward-facing 14-inch-diameter (35-centimeter) telescope, according to the company.
Without press access to see the demolition firsthand, it fell to a camera hundreds of miles above the White House to see what was really happening at the East Wing. Planet Labs released an image taken Thursday morning from one of its SkySat satellites showing the 123-year-old annex leveled.
What became known as the East Wing was first constructed in 1902 and was then rebuilt in 1942 during the Franklin Roosevelt administration to create more office space and provide cover for a bunker during World War II. In modern presidencies, the East Wing was typically home to the first ladys staff.
Planet Labs, based in San Francisco, operates a fleet of hundreds of small Earth-imaging satellites mapping the planet every day. The company sells its imagery to commercial customers and the US government, including intelligence agencies, which use the imagery to augment the surveillance capabilities of more exquisite government-owned spy satellites.
...
The SkySat satellite used for Thursdays examination of the White House flies at an altitude of approximately 295 miles (475 kilometers). It can capture imagery with a resolution of about 20 inches (50 centimeters) per pixel. Planet Labs owns 15 SkySats, each with three overlapping 5.5-megapixel imaging sensors fitted under a downward-facing 14-inch-diameter (35-centimeter) telescope, according to the company.
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Perhaps there is to be a second floor & underground parking included in the square footage.
Bernardo de La Paz
Friday
#6
They can't put underground parking under the East Wing. The presidential bunker is there.
SunSeeker
Friday
#17
At 90,000 sf, its footprint would require more than two acres of land. Eyeballing
allegorical oracle
Friday
#11
Also he wanted to claim that after 9/11, it was "the tallest building in lower Manhattan"
viva la
Friday
#34
All White House furnishings and fixtures are inventoried, or at least they used to be. nt
SunSeeker
Friday
#18
Last time he made off with boxes full of top secret classified documents, and got away with it.
sop
Friday
#39
There will be a conditioned basement. And probably a 2nd floor in the non-ballroom space.
maxsolomon
Friday
#19
Motel 47 will open soon. We'll shine the light in your face. Rooms by the hour, sheets changed weekly, maybe.
twodogsbarking
Friday
#20
I saw a post that said he's building a new, larger state of the art underground bunker with all the
Autumn
Friday
#29
''...The logical place to put this Epstein ballroom would have been below-grade ...''. There, I fixed it. n/t
aggiesal
Friday
#32