A section of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts ceiling collapsed Friday evening, forcing an immediate closure of the building's main grand foyer. The incident, which occurred around 5 p.m. following storms in the Washington, D.C. area, resulted in no injuries.
The collapse swiftly revived calls for the center to undergo a two-year renovation project. Kennedy Center Vice President of Public Relations Roma Daravi issued a statement connecting the structural failure to the urgent need for upgrades.
Daravi said the incident underscores the necessity of closing for renovation, as President Donald Trump has pushed for. She attributed the structural failure to "decades of neglect and deferred maintenance by previous leadership" and said there is "no justification to further delay restoring America's cultural center."
The grand foyer, where the ceiling fell, is the same location where Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio) posed for pictures two days earlier on Wednesday. Beatty, an ex officio member of the center's board, has challenged the proposed two-year closure, arguing the board's initial decision was rushed and inadequately considered.
A federal judge blocked that closure in May but allowed for a new vote following a thorough review of options, including the possibility of remaining partially open. The board voted again in August after evaluating various renovation proposals.
The legal battle intensified when Kennedy Center representatives informed the court they would not rename the facility the Trump-Kennedy Center but instead would incorporate the president's name in other ways. Beatty responded by filing an emergency motion, contending these alternative actions still "cross a line."
The Department of Justice then entered the dispute, stating that if the two-year renovation is not approved, the Kennedy Center would be demolished and converted into an amphitheater. DOJ lawyers later agreed to postpone adding Trump's name while a federal judge deliberates the matter.
The Kennedy Center board will hold off on any naming changes until October as judicial review continues.
Executive Director Matt Floca's renovation recommendations target structural issues including significant water damage, rusting steel components, and replacement of industrial chillers over three decades old.
