created by Peter Sharkey
Ground FloorThe ground floor of the West Wing houses offices for the president's staff and security, as well as the cafeteria and the White House Situation Room, made up of the Watch Center, a small conference room, and Video Teleconferencing Room. The old structure (TR/Taft Executive Office Building) had only a rudimentary basement. The expansion of 1934 included not only a second floor but a large basement. Time magazine said at the opening:
The West Wing ground floor once contained the White House Bowling Alley—two lanes installed with private donations during the Truman administration in 1947 but removed in 1955. In 1969, one lane was installed by friends of President Nixon, who was an avid bowler, in the basement of the Residence.
Click a hotspot on the floor plan to visit the room
|
President Obama visits a ground floor staff office in 2009 (White House - Pete Souza)