Architect's White House Ballroom Project Baffles Colleagues Amid Trump Tensions
Shalom Baranes, the 75-year-old architect who has agreed to oversee President Donald Trump's White House ballroom addition, has left colleagues in Washington, D.C., "totally baffled" by his decision to take on this controversial project late in his career. Baranes is a well-respected figure in the capital's architectural community, known for his work on numerous federal buildings, yet his acceptance of this role has sparked widespread confusion given his history of criticising the Trump administration's immigration policies.
Colleagues Express Bewilderment
Questions such as "Why would he do this?" and "Wonder if the firm needs the business?" have circulated among reports and editors at the Washington Biz Journal since December, when it was announced that Baranes would take over the 90,000 square-foot ballroom project. Nancy MacWood, a preservationist familiar with Baranes' work, told the New York Times, "I am totally baffled why he would take this on." Similarly, David M. Schwarz, an architect in D.C. who has known Baranes since their Yale School of Architecture days, expressed confusion, stating, "I don't understand why he would put himself in such a hot seat right now."
Baranes' Background and Criticisms
Baranes, the son of Jewish Libyan refugees who came to the United States at age six, has been openly critical of the Trump administration's harsh anti-immigration policies. In a recent interview with the New York Times, he reiterated his stance, saying, "What's happening now is heartbreaking," and adding, "I do hope there's a realization at some point that this country depends on immigration. We have to normalise our policies." His legacy as a creative and collaborative architect was firmly established by 2006, with the Washington Post noting it would be hard to find an architect more knowledgeable about designing in Washington.
Project Details and Motivations
The $400 million ballroom project, which has faced scrutiny from architects, the public, and lawmakers, was taken over by Baranes after the original architect, James McCrery II, stepped down. Renderings show the massive structure attached to the main residence, intended to provide a larger entertaining space for state dinners and other events as demanded by Trump. Baranes is under a nondisclosure agreement with the White House and declined to explain his motivations to the New York Times, but he denied allegations that his firm needs the undisclosed amount of money from the job.
Support and Previous High-Profile Work
Despite the bafflement, some in the architecture community understand his decision. Richard Nash Gould, a New York architect and Trump supporter, said, "If I had to pick who would do this job, it would be Shalom. He's happy, he's bulletproof and he's really smart. Why wouldn't he? It's an incredibly interesting job." Baranes' notable projects include:
- Renovation of the Department of Homeland Security headquarters
- Work on the Federal Reserve Building
- Contributions to the American Red Cross Building and the Treasury
- Most significantly, leading the renovation of the Pentagon after the September 11, 2001, attacks
In a 2017 op-ed for the Washington Post, Baranes referred to the Pentagon project as his "proudest moment" while lightly criticising Trump's immigration policies, writing, "My hope is that the Trump administration will take actions to ensure that the travel ban is indeed temporary, so that good, hard-working individuals fleeing tyranny can find a new home as I did." It appears Baranes is setting aside personal feelings to focus on this new high-profile addition to the White House.
