Ceiling section collapses in Kennedy Center foyer after Washington storms, prompting closure
A portion of the Kennedy Center’s main-building ceiling fell in the grand foyer on Friday evening after severe storms, no one was hurt and the venue was closed for the night.
Around 5 p.m. on Friday, a segment of the ceiling in the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts’ grand foyer gave way, prompting an immediate shutdown of the main building for the evening. Fortunately, the incident caused no injuries. Center Vice President of Public Relations Roma Daravi said the failure highlights President Donald Trump’s call to close the venue for a two-year renovation and revitalization.
Representative Joyce Beatty, who sits on the center’s board, has challenged the closure plan, noting a federal judge’s May injunction and urging a more careful review. The Department of Justice responded to the ongoing dispute by warning that a denial of the renovation could lead to demolition and replacement with an amphitheater, though it later agreed to pause adding Trump’s name while the court deliberates. The renovation proposal, drafted by current executive director Matt Floca, targets long-standing structural problems such as water intrusion, corroded steel and three-decade-old industrial chillers. The foyer area will remain closed through the weekend while repairs are arranged.
Why it matters
The collapse raises safety concerns at a national cultural landmark and intensifies a political fight over costly renovations.
In this story
