Courts

Areaways

A drive from the West Wing allows direct access to the ground floor by way of open courts or areaways on the north side of the White House on either side of the North portico. The courts are fully below grade and so allow both the north side ground floor rooms to have windows but also the basement rooms under the north drive. The large doors allow trucks to deliver food and other supplies directly to the ground floor and to remove trash and furniture.

There are no courts on the south side of the mansion because the ground naturally slopes away on that that side, allowing all the rooms on the south side to have windows above grade.