US President Donald Trump has replaced James McCrery as the lead architect for his White House ballroom project, appointing Shalom Baranes Associates as the new firm in charge.
McCrery, who was initially announced as the architect for the White House expansion in July, was removed because his studio could not progress at the pace Trump expected, according to the Washington Post.
The newspaper also reported that McCrery and Trump disagreed over proposals to enlarge the planned ballroom.
“Highly talented Shalom Baranes has joined the team”
Although McCrery will continue to serve as a consultant, the leadership of the project now passes to Shalom Baranes Associates, headed by US architect Shalom Baranes.
Based in Washington DC, Shalom Baranes Associates is a significantly larger practice than McCrery Architects and has completed numerous commercial developments throughout the city.
A White House spokesperson confirmed the change in architectural leadership.
“As we transition into the next stage of development for the White House ballroom, the administration is pleased to welcome the highly talented Shalom Baranes to our team of experts, who will help realize President Trump’s vision for what will become the greatest addition to the White House since the Oval Office – the White House ballroom,” said White House spokesperson Davis Ingle in a statement.
“Shalom is an accomplished architect whose work has defined much of our nation’s capital, and his expertise will be invaluable as we complete this important project.”
Ballroom to be constructed on former East Wing site
The planned 90,000-square-foot (8,360-square-metre) ballroom will be built on the site of the former East Wing, which was demolished in October.
Designed in the neoclassical style, the ballroom will serve as an event space for major gatherings and will accommodate up to 650 people for seated events.
Trump has stated that the project will be funded entirely through private donations, with support from dozens of American companies and individuals. Notable funders include Apple, the Adelson Family Foundation, Amazon, Google, Meta, Coinbase, Palantir, and Lockheed Martin.
The White House redevelopment is one of several initiatives Trump has launched to leave a lasting legacy in Washington DC. Last month, he unveiled plans for a classical-style triumphal arch to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary in 2026 and proposed repainting the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.
Earlier this week, Trump also called for a “redesign” of the Eero Saarinen-designed Dulles Airport.
