Donald Trump has found countless ways as President to keep his “real estate juices”. The developer who has become in the client who has become a politician has made his attention aware of luxury hotel turrets and country clubs to see his current excavations: the White House. Since taking office in January, Trump has decorated the Oval Office and paves the rose garden. This week he confirmed plans to expand the event room of the White House with a large, beautiful ballroom, which was designed in a classic style.
McCrery Architects, a company led by Jim McCrery in Washington, DC, developed the addition. AECOM will offer engineering and Clark Construction will realize the building.
McCrery specializes in cathedrals and Catholic churches. He is open about his awe of classic and “traditional” design, similar to Trump. McCrery is also an Associate Professor at the School of Architecture and Planning at Catholic University of America, where he is known on the campus for his “stylish arch”.
McCrery's biography on the school's website says that he acquired two architectural qualifications at Ohio State University before working in the New York office of Peter Eisenman, who was also a professor together with Jeffrey Kipnis during his final. This professional experience prompted McCrery to rethink “his modernist education”. Later “the philosophical foundations of postmodern thinking and their effects on architecture Mr. McCrery initiated to examine and ultimately commit himself to a classic architecture.” He then found work with the classic architect Allan Greenberg. The shift from modern to postmodern to classic theory was mocked by the satirical anonymous Instagram -Count @b0ysfirm in a recently published article.
From 2019 to 2024, McCrery worked in the US Commission for Fine Arts. He was appointed by President Trump during his first term.
A new pitch
In an announcement, the White House said that the impetus for a new ballroom was “a longing for” a large event room in the white house complex “. The administration seemed to be fed up with opening a tent on the lawn when they organize larger state dinner. Trump had the idea in mind long before his first term: in 2010 he called President Barack Obama to build an event area, but did not receive an answer.
The ballroom structure has been the first structural change since the truman balcony was added in 1948. The design of McCrery will recognize a 90,000 square meter ballroom, which is “essentially separated in the east wing of the White House. The new space is designed for 650 people, more than the current capacity of 200 people from the East Room. With a price of 200 million US dollars, the rough mathematics for the cost of $ 2.222 per square foot is new construction.
“It will be nearby, but it will not be touched and does not affect the existing building that I am the biggest fan,” said Trump about the White House. “It's my favorite. It's my favorite place. I love it.”
In order to appease Trump's striking, “dictator -chic” taste -and all screams of nature conservationists who have worked on working on historical buildings and locations, the White House assures that the “topic and the architectural heritage will be almost identical”. The press spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt confirmed that “nothing is being torn down” to build the new structure. She added that renovations and upgrades are also carried out on the east wing.
Renderings that have shared the ballroom addition show a palladic structure that is lined with Corinthian columns and rows of Venetian windows. Inside, a cassade blanket is decorated with shimmering golden accents. Large chandeliers and other massive candelabra shed light on the interiors, which are largely completed in white color.
The two external rendering appears overwhelmed: the two distributed images are not assigned with materials and read as outputs in Arctic mode. In one, some of the glass windows are not transparent, and the American flag is shown in white and not in its exact color. No drawings were published that show the placement of the new structure in relation to the existing white house.
Out of love for money
“The presidents in the modern period were challenges in organizing important events in the White House because it has been untouched since President Harry Truman,” said architect Jim McCrery in a statement. “It is an honor for me that President Trump entrust me to bring this beautiful and necessary renovation into the house of the people while I keep the elegance of its classic design and historical meaning.”
McCrery is also a co -founder of the National Civic Art Society (NCAS) and a member of the Board of Directors of the non -profit organization. NCAS President Justin Shubow said in a statement: “Our organization has no doubt that he will design a nice, suitable addition. President Theodore Roosevelt, who personally chose Beaux-Art-Architect Charles McKim to renovate the White House during his time. President Trump has also made a wise decision in posting McCrery.”
In the weeks before the announcement and the unveiling of Design, President Trump returned to the role of real estate mogul, which the design planned alongside the White House employees, the National Park Service and the White House military office. The United States Secret Service was also involved in planning the project.
As every developer knows, you have to find the money as soon as you have found your country, then you have to find the money. The White House said Trump and “other Patriot donors” will release the money for the ballroom. Congressman Mark Pocan, a Democrat from Wisconsin, asked questions about this financing structure and asked whether it should be discussed for discussion with the congress.
Another question is the procurement process: other additions in Washington, DC, such as monuments, museum extensions and renovation work, often go through competitions or RFP/RFQ suggestions to select the best designs or teams that contribute to the built -up area of the city.
Construction begins in September 2025 and, according to the White House, will complete the end of Trump's term in office.
“I am good at building things and we will build quickly and punctually. It will be beautiful, at the top, top of the line,” said Trump.