Related videos:
The president Donald Trump publicly praised the Cuban-American architect Rick González again, a discreet yet central figure in the transformation of Mar-a-Lago for over 25 years.
"He is truly talented, he's from Cuba," Trump said recently, referring to the professional with whom he has maintained a trusting relationship for three decades.
González is the president and co-founder of REG Architects, a firm based in downtown West Palm Beach, which he founded alongside his father, Ricardo González, in 1988. Born in Cuba and raised in Miami and later in Costa Rica, he earned two degrees in architecture from the Catholic University of America in Washington D.C. and furthered his education in Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Italy, taking specialized courses in classical design in Venice, Florence, and the Veneto region.
The professional relationship between González and Trump began in 1997 when the architect was interviewed by the then-businessman. According to González himself, the topic of Cuba came up immediately in that first conversation, planting a bond that would endure over time.
Since that meeting, REG Architects became the go-to firm for architectural interventions at Mar-a-Lago, Trump's historic mansion in Palm Beach.
The property, designated a National Historic Site, requires that any modifications be approved by the Palm Beach Landmarks Preservation Commission and the National Trust for Historic Preservation, making González's expertise in historic preservation an indispensable asset.
In 1998, REG Architects received the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation Award specifically for the restoration of the club. One of the most visible projects was the helipad for the presidential helicopter Marine One in 2017: a reinforced concrete platform 50 feet long, located 300 feet from the main buildings.
In January 2023, the firm presented to the Palm Beach monuments commission the design of a 232 square foot security booth for the main entrance of Mar-a-Lago, featuring coquina cladding, terracotta tiles, armor, and bulletproof glass.
Among the active projects is also a guest residence in Palm Beach and a three-story office building of 45,000 square feet for Trump National Golf Club in Jupiter, Florida.
Trump's trust in González goes beyond commercial interests. In March 2020, the president appointed him as Expert Member of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) and later designated him as Vice President of the organization. During his second term, Trump reapproved him for the position, where he was sworn in alongside six other new members.
Beyond his association with Trump, González has built a solid institutional track record: he served as president of the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation from 2008 to 2020, was a member of the State Board of Architecture and Interior Design appointed by Governor Jeb Bush from 2000 to 2007, and received the Gold Medal from the American Institute of Architects of Palm Beach in November 2020.
REG Architects ranks among the top three historical preservation firms in Florida, simultaneously involved in around a dozen projects throughout the state.
According to a report by Telemundo 51, González maintains a deliberately low profile and avoids public exposure. Many of his interactions with Trump occur on the golf course, where the president engages in informal conversations with people in his close circle.
The recent public praise from the leader once again placed him in the spotlight, reminding everyone that behind the "winter White House" is a Cuban-American architect who has been shaping it for over 25 years.
Filed under: