Specifications - White House
Summary
The White House serves as both the official residence and the executive office of the President of the United States. It is a complex facility combining historic architecture with modern security and operational capabilities. The building and its grounds support around 150 occupants daily, including the President, staff, security, and support personnel.
Equipped with advanced air filtration and secure government communication networks, the White House maintains continuous functionality with backup power systems and emergency resources. Its size spans approximately 180,000 square feet across multiple wings and floors, with dedicated spaces for executive offices, residential quarters, and operational centers like the Situation Room.
The facility includes secure transportation assets such as the presidential motorcade fleet and Marine One helicopters, alongside underground tunnels and vehicle maintenance areas. Security is tightly integrated through physical barriers, electronic defense systems, and coordinated protective services led by the U.S. Secret Service.
While the White House hosts many staff and essential personnel on site, key federal agency directors and legislative members operate from separate locations. The facility is designed to ensure resilience, autonomy in crisis scenarios, and continuous executive operation under all circumstances.
General
| Max Occupancy | ~150 people (including staff, security, visitors) | |
| Food Source | On-site kitchens; supplied by local/regional providers | |
| Air Filtration | Advanced HVAC with HEPA filtration, NBC (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical) filtration capabilities | |
| Network | Secure government networks (classified and unclassified), fiber optic and satellite communications | |
| Autonomy | Limited autonomy; reliant on external utilities but has backup generators and emergency systems | |
| Capacity | Designed to support full executive operation and hosting capacity for several hundred guests in events | |
| Power Source | Primary power from Washington, D.C. grid; emergency diesel generators for backup power | |
| Water Source | Municipal water supply with on-site filtration and emergency reserves |
Size Overview
| Total Depth | N/A (building footprint is essentially a complex of structures on a plot) | |
| Total Number of Decks | 6 floors total (including sub-basement, basement, ground, second floor, third floor, and attic levels) | |
| Total Horizontal Footprint | Approx. 55,000 sq ft (approximate footprint of the Executive Residence and connected West and East Wings) | |
| Total Floor Space | Approx. 55,000 sq ft usable floor space in the main residence; combined with East and West Wings, roughly 180,000 sq ft total complex space | |
| Structural Diameter | N/A (not circular) | |
| Structural Layers | Multiple structural layers including outer stone façade, internal framing, and reinforced concrete and steel supports | |
| Volume | N/A | |
| Key Facility Sizes | Oval Office: ~35 ft x 29 ft (approximate) Situation Room: ~4,000 sq ft Press Briefing Room: ~3,000 sq ft Residential Quarters: ~12,000 sq ft Kitchen Facilities: Multiple kitchens spread across East Wing and basement |
Backup Vehicles & Transportation Facilities
| Location | On White House grounds and secure nearby facilities (e.g., the Treasury Building, Eisenhower Executive Office Building) | |
| Motorcade Fleet | Armored presidential limousines ("The Beast"), SUVs, support vehicles (~20 vehicles in rotation) | |
| Aircraft | Marine One (VH-3D and VH-60N helicopters) based at Joint Base Anacostia–Bolling (~3-5 helicopters) | |
| Surface & Subterranean Access | Secure underground tunnels connecting White House to nearby buildings and underground parking | |
| Vehicle Support Facilities | Secure garages and maintenance facilities on White House grounds |
Personnel
| Executive Branch (President, VP, Cabinet) | ~50 (including immediate office and key advisors) | |
| Federal Agency Directors (FBI, CIA, NSA, DHS, etc.) | N/A (usually located in respective agency headquarters, not on site) | |
| Legislative Branch (Senators + Representatives) | N/A (not based at White House) | |
| Military Personnel | ~100 (White House Military Office staff, security personnel including Marines) | |
| Medical Staff | 5-10 (White House Medical Unit) | |
| Technical & Operations Staff | ~50-100 (communications, IT, facility management) | |
| Support Staff (maintenance, sanitation, food, admin) | ~150 | |
| Scientific & Agricultural Staff | N/A (no permanent staff on site) | |
| Education Staff | N/A | |
| Recreation & Morale Staff | Small number, event-based contractors and staff (~10) | |
| Government & Judicial Staff | N/A (government staff located in Capitol and other buildings) | |
| General Population (residents and other civilians) | N/A |
Defensive Systems
| Defense System | Secret Service protection, physical security measures (bollards, fencing, checkpoints) Anti-drone technology Electronic countermeasures and signal jamming capabilities Hardened structural elements and blast-resistant windows Integrated emergency evacuation and lockdown systems Air defense coverage coordinated with National Capital Region defenses |