White House Ballroom Project Stalls After Architect Warns Design Is “Implausible”

Washington — A major White House construction initiative championed personally by President Trump has come to an abrupt halt after the project’s lead architect concluded that the proposed 90,000-square-foot expansion was structurally and aesthetically unworkable, according to officials familiar with the discussions.

The project, intended to replace a demolished section on the south side of the White House with a new multi-hundred-million-dollar presidential ballroom, had been accelerating rapidly in recent weeks. Heavy equipment operated day and night, and large portions of the existing structure were cleared to make room for what the administration promoted as a signature achievement of Trump’s second term: a vast, modern event space larger than the White House itself.

But after demolition had already begun, James McCra II, the architect personally selected by the president, informed senior aides that the project, as envisioned, could not be built without violating core architectural principles governing additions to historic structures. Chief among his concerns was scale. At roughly 55,000 square feet, the White House’s main building would be overshadowed by the proposed ballroom, which McCra argued would fundamentally distort the proportional balance of the iconic residence.

According to two people briefed on the project, McCra warned the president that the structure’s massing was “not realistically achievable” without triggering significant structural, aesthetic and regulatory conflicts. His assessment drew a sharp backlash from the president, who has repeatedly insisted on a design of unprecedented size.

Within days, McCra was removed from the project, leaving behind a partially demolished site and no approved architectural plan. The administration is now seeking a replacement team, including discussions with the Washington-based firm Shalom Baron Baroness, though no final decision has been announced.

The setback has raised new concerns about presidential oversight of a project that is already estimated to exceed $300 million in costs — far higher than initially projected. Critics say the abrupt firings, shifting design expectations and lack of a finalized construction plan reflect a broader pattern of management dysfunction.

“This is the classic measure-twice-cut-once problem,” said one former official familiar with federal construction procedures. “Demolition began before there was a technically and historically feasible plan for what would replace it.”

The dispute has also reignited questions about Trump’s frequently cited business background. While the president has long pointed to his real-estate experience as evidence of his ability to manage large-scale projects, many of his past developments have been marked by delays, budget overruns and high-profile legal disputes.

Supporters argue the ballroom would modernize the Executive Mansion and allow the administration to host global summits and state events at an unprecedented scale. But preservationists counter that the current plan — if revived — would compromise the architectural integrity of one of the country’s most significant historic buildings.

For now, the South Lawn remains dominated by cranes, debris and a project with no clear path forward. White House officials have not provided a revised construction timeline, and it remains unclear when — or whether — work will resume.