Ecclesiastical Design with James McCrery (Episode 34)

Listen as host Peter H. Miller, Hon AIA interviews James C. McCrery, AIA, NCARB of McCrery Architects. They discuss church design, enlightened clients, the enduring importance of beauty, and the often-overlooked truths behind building a successful architectural practice.

James C. McCrery recently came to public attention following his selection by President Trump to design a proposed White House ballroom on the site of the East Wing—a project that concluded after a six-month engagement amid public and professional opposition.

In contrast to that brief and highly visible episode, Traditional Building has focused on the substance of McCrery’s work. The magazine recently published a story on a Roman Catholic church in Aiken, South Carolina, designed by McCrery Architects, one of many examples of the firm’s award-winning ecclesiastical and institutional projects.

Classical in language, contextual in siting, and rich in appropriate religious symbolism, the church is featured in Traditional Building’s annual Ecclesiastical issue (December 2025). James McCrery Architects continues to advance several significant commissions, including a collaborative project on the Hillsdale College campus, working alongside peers Duncan Stroik and Michael Imber.

“Classical and traditional design is about truth, goodness, and beauty,” McCrery says. “It’s not about social engineering. Beautiful buildings can inspire us to be better—but they cannot change us.”

As a professor of classical architecture at The Catholic University of America, McCrery offers direct counsel to students and young architects: “Architecture is difficult. Difficulty is the reward. Challenges are good.”

Listen in as James McCrery discusses church design, enlightened clients, the enduring importance of beauty, and the often-overlooked truths behind building a successful architectural practice.