A letter dated November 21 has been sent by 13 AIA members to James McCrery, of McCrery Architects. It states “some concerns about [his] involvement with the destruction of the East Wing of the White House and the impending design of the New Ballroom to replace the East Wing.”
Samuel Combs, an architect based in Anchorage, Alaska, and a member of the AIA Historic Resources Committee, is one of the letter’s signatories. The 12 other signatories of the November 21 letter asked to keep their names confidential.
The letter, reviewed by AN, was sent to McCrery “as a courtesy to [him] prior to submitting any Code of Ethics & Professional Conduct Complaints to the National AIA.”
McCrery is an AIA member, therefore subject to the AIA’s rules. If proven to have violated the AIA’s Code of Ethics & Professional Conduct, McCrery may face “admonition, censure, suspension,” or “termination of AIA membership,” as the AIA states in its 2024 Rules of Application, Enforcement, and Amendment.
The signatories affirmed that they do not speak for the AIA. In the letter, they identify themselves as members of the “American Historic Preservation Community.”
When asked about the letter, the AIA told AN that it is “aware of the letter, though it was sent independent of AIA or the Historic Resources Committee.”
A redacted version of the letter is viewable here.
Questions for McCrery
The letter delivers five questions to McCrery:
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It appears that there were no permits for demolition applied for and we’re wondering if that is true and if you explained the proper channels to your client (the President) to proceed through proper channels? Additionally are you going through proper channels for approvals for new construction?
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The White House has claimed there was abatement in September of all hazardous materials and we were wondering if that is true and if all environmental laws were followed?
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We were wondering as to your opinion and knowledge of what conspired to have the President fire almost all the members of the National Capital Planning Commission which would normally oversee such modifications to the People’s House and replace them with his handpicked commissioners?
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We were wondering as to your opinion and knowledge of what conspired to have the President fire all the members of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts and his plan to replace them with his handpicked commissioners? Billie Tsien, AIA was the Chair of a reputable Commission and is well known for her designs. All the positions remain vacant.
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It has been reported in the news that you gave direction to have the East Wing demolished to make room for the new ballroom and are wondering if that is true? If you did, when did you direct the demolition of the East Wing and why weren’t normal approvals sought and the American people notified of the impending destruction of the entire East Wing?
A Violation of Ethics?
The November 21 letter states that its signatories believe McCrery may have violated the AIA’s Code of Ethics & Professional Conduct General Obligation and Obligations to the Public and Client rules—namely Rules 1.101, 1.402, 2.101, 2.105, 2.106, 2.401, 3.101, 3.102, and 3.201.
The signatories state that this communication is not personally motivated, but affirmed that further alterations to the White House, referred to in the letter as “the People’s House,” need “to be stopped.”
“We want to make it perfectly clear that we harbor no ill will towards you personally,” the text states. “We just believe that this effort may serve to slow down the further destruction of the White House, the People’s House, hope that it results in a better outcome for the proposed addition, and may deter other such renegade efforts relative to our national legacy without appropriate oversight.”
The letter concludes by saying that the AIA’s reputation and integrity is at stake, before adding further harm to the nation’s most symbolic residence “needs to be stopped.”
Political Navigation
Combs shared with AN he is in correspondence with the National Trust, the Society of Architectural Historians, and the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions. He also met with Corey Clayborne, FAIA, Senior Vice President, Knowledge & Practice; and Alexander Cochran, Chief Advocacy Office, who wanted Combs to “hold off on sending the letter to James McCrery.” Both are staff leaders of the AIA.
Combs said he was discouraged by the AIA from sending the letter because the organization is “working with Democratic members of Congress to introduce a bill that would protect the White House in the future.”
The bill “would not be introduced until after the New Year,” Combs said, before adding that the AIA feels “that any attempt to confront McCrery in effect damages all architects and that the news media will see it that way, i.e., architects attacking architects.”
In a post last Friday on the AIA Historic Resources Forum, Combs summarized that he thinks “that the AIA’s response has been tepid to say the least.”
Combs criticized the AIA’s strategy as a “long process” at a moment when time is of the essence and because the proposed bill will likely be stopped by the Republican majority in Congress, and President Trump, he said.
Given the current composition of the Senate and House of Representatives, such a legislative process might take years. “The current president could have torn down the West Wing and/or even the original White House by then,” Combs posted in the online forum.
AN has emailed McCrery for comment but has not received a response.
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