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President Donald Trump on Thursday hired a new architect to lead the next phase of the White House ballroom project.
Trump tapped Shalom Baranes Associates, a Washington, D.C.-based architecture firm, to oversee the design of the ballroom.
“As we begin to move into the next phase of development of the White House Ballroom, the Administration is pleased to announce that the highly talented Shalom Baranes has joined a team of experts to realize President Trump’s vision of building what will be the greatest addition to the White House since the Oval Office, the White House Ballroom,” White House spokesman Davis Ingle said in a statement.
Ingle added: “Shalom is an accomplished architect whose work has shaped architectural individuality of the capital of our country for decades, and his experience will be a great asset to the completion of this project.”
WHITE HOUSE RESPONDS TO REPORTS TRUMP NAMED NEW BALLROOM AFTER HIMSELF
An excavator works to clear debris from the demolition of the East Wing of the White House on October 23, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Eric Lee/Getty Images)
Trump initially selected McCrery Architects to design the ballroom. McCrary will remain a valuable consultant on the project, a White House spokesman told Fox News.
Construction of the ballroom has begun in October, leading to the demolition of the historic East Wing of the White House.
The project is privately funded and has an estimated cost of $300 million, down from an estimate of $200 million in July when the project was unveiled.
FIRST LADY DOLLY MADISON WAS RECEIVED FREE RENOVATIONS FOR TRUMP'S WHITE HOUSE
Heavy equipment demolishes part of the East Wing of the White House as construction begins on President Donald Trump's planned ballroom in Washington on October 20. (Pedro Ugarte/AFP/Getty Images)
Trump provided an update on construction during a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, saying: “I wouldn't say my wife is thrilled.”
“She hears pile drivers in the background all day and all night,” he said.
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Rendering of the new ballroom courtesy of the White House by McCrery Architects. (White House)
The President said that major repairs have been needed for 150 years, addition, “I think it will be the best ballroom ever built.”
The White House has previously said the long-awaited addition will be designed to accommodate large gatherings and state visits and will be completed before the end of Trump's term.
