The East Wing of the White House was originally constructed in 1902 as an extension to the main residence, and it underwent a major renovation and expansion in 1942. The 1942 addition created the two-story East Wing as part of a project to house additional offices and to conceal an underground emergency shelter (the Presidential Emergency Operations Center) during World War II. It has traditionally served as the office space for the First Lady and her staff, and the East Colonnade within the wing connects to the Executive Residence.
If you’re looking for more precise dates, architectural details, or current status, I can pull in the latest reporting on any recent changes to the East Wing and summarize them.
