The board of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has again voted to proceed with a plan to temporarily close the building for renovations, according to the New York Times, citing two people with direct knowledge of the proceedings. The decision is subject to approval by a federal judge, who previously blocked the closure.
Board votes again despite previous court block
In May, U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper issued a temporary block on the closure, which was set to begin in July after the board—mostly handpicked by President Trump—voted unanimously in favor. The plan called for two years of renovations. Democratic U.S. Representative Joyce Beatty of Ohio, a board member, sued over the decision.
Judge Cooper halted the plan, stating that "in ratifying President Trump's closure announcement, the Board was derelict in discharging the full range of its responsibilities to the Center." He added that the board's decision was based on "insufficient, one-sided presentation of information" and neglected to consider its statutory obligations and potential adverse consequences on programming and memorial functions. He described the decision as "ill-informed and seemingly preordained."
New vote and renovation plan details
According to the New York Times, the board voted to close the main building while keeping the newer addition, known as the Reach, open for limited programming and as an active memorial to John F. Kennedy. Ahead of the meeting, the board received a 163-page plan for a $250 million "renewal" project, including structural repairs, new marble floors, $11.8 million in acoustical improvements, and a plan to temporarily move the 3,000-pound bronze bust of Kennedy to another building on campus.
An outside consultant provided a comparison of two renovation scenarios. Both the consultant and construction management firm JLL raised safety and cost concerns about keeping the building open during phased renovations. The JLL proposal addresses chronic leaks, replaces outdated equipment, and redesigns parts of the interior, including new furniture, a coffee shop, electronic ticketing kiosks, and $7 million in restroom renovations. The target reopening is summer 2028.
Legal review and next steps
Judge Cooper had ruled that the board has a legal obligation to maintain the facility as a memorial to President Kennedy. Under the plan, memorial materials would be moved to the Reach during closure. The meeting was held virtually and was not public. It remains unclear whether the center will pursue the exact plan following the judge's review. The Kennedy Center has until next week to share its plan with Cooper, who will review whether the board carried out sufficient due diligence. The Kennedy Center has not yet commented on the latest vote.
