President Donald Trump has brought in a new architectural firm to lead the White House ballroom project after disagreements with the architect originally contracted for the job, several sources told CNN. One senior White House official said McCrery Architects and its CEO James McCrery would no longer be involved after clashing with the president over the scope and size of the ballroom. However, two other White House officials denied that McCrery was removed, saying he would stay on as a consultant.
The new lead firm is Shalom Baranes Associates, a Washington, DC–based practice whose past work includes the general services administration’s national headquarters. Confirming the shift, White House spokesperson Davis Ingle said in a statement to CNN: “As we begin to transition into the next stage of development on the White House Ballroom, the Administration is excited to share that the highly talented Shalom Baranes has joined the team of experts to carry out President Trump’s vision on building what will be the greatest addition to the White House since the Oval Office – the White House Ballroom. ” He added that Baranes’ experience “will be a great asset to the completion of this project.”CNN reported that tensions had built up in recent weeks over design disagreements between Trump and McCrery, including the size of the proposed structure and how closely it should align with the White House’s classic architectural style. The Washington Post earlier reported, citing four sources, that the dispute reflected a broader mismatch between Trump’s elaborate preferences and traditional design norms.The ballroom’s scale and cost have grown significantly since the initial announcement. The White House originally outlined a 90,000-square-foot hall with seating for 650 people at a cost of $200 million, funded fully by private donors. Trump later said the cost would rise to $300 million, in line with a larger structure, though the final dimensions remain unclear.The project has sparked criticism from preservationists after the administration tore down the entire East Wing without approval from the federal commission that oversees such construction. The White House has said it will submit the ballroom plans to the national capital planning commission but maintains the commission has no authority over the demolition itself. Will Scharf, who heads the commission and was appointed by Trump, said he has been informed that plans will be submitted this month.