East Wing, Presidential office wing in Washington, D.C., United States.
The East Wing is a wing of the White House in Washington, D.C., spanning three stories and housing several office spaces and meeting rooms. The spaces connect through wide carpeted corridors lined with artwork and photographs along the walls.
Construction began in 1942 as a response to increased workspace needs during World War II, when the government required additional room for growing administrative staff. Completion took place within months under the direction of architect Lorenzo Winslow, who had also designed earlier White House expansions.
The structure connects the residence to the East Colonnade, a covered passage that once served for official receptions. Visitors today pass through this area on their way to the public rooms and see the wall gallery displaying rotating exhibitions.
Visitors typically enter the White House through this wing and pass through security checks before reaching the tour routes. Access is from East Executive Avenue, where the entrance checkpoint is located.
Below the visible floors, several underground levels contain facilities for the Secret Service and emergency operations. These hidden spaces were expanded during the Cold War and now provide modern command centers.
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