The Kennedy Center wants to show that the building really needs a renovation

The Kennedy Center's new president, Matt Floca, is conducting tours to demonstrate the building's need for extensive renovations. These tours, which began this month, showcase water damage to various structural components like expansion joints, marble slabs, and the HVAC system. Participants have included congressional staff, a representative for Washington's mayor, and corporate donors. The goal is to convince lawmakers and the public that the building's issues are beyond simple repairs, especially after controversy arose during Donald Trump's presidency when he appointed a new board and initiated a two-year closure. Floca plans to offer tours to lawmakers and the media in the coming weeks. The tours aim to counter claims that the closure is solely due to declining sales and artist cancellations.