Willy Bermello's Journey: From Selling Newspapers in Miami to Designing Trump's Library

Cuban-American architect Willy Bermello, founder of Bermello Ajamil & Partners and the visionary behind the upcoming Donald Trump Presidential Library in Miami, arrived in the city as a nine-year-old with just five dollars in his family's pocket. Little did he know, decades later, he would sign off on one of South Florida's most ambitious projects.

In an interview with journalist Tania Costa, Bermello shared the hardships his family faced after leaving Cuba in October 1960, amidst the mass exodus following January 1, 1959. "When we got to Miami, each of us—my father, my mother, and I—had five dollars in our pockets. At that time, there was nothing here," the architect recounted.

For the first two months, the family shared a home with another family while his father sought employment. Their meals depended on the shelter's provisions: Velveeta cheese, Spam, powdered milk, and eggs. "We lived very, very modestly," Bermello admitted.

Overcoming Early Struggles

Bermello's father, Guillermo Bermello, was a lawyer, a certified public accountant, and a doctor of commercial sciences in Cuba, but had to start over in Miami. He eventually worked in intelligence, supporting operations related to the failed Bay of Pigs invasion and assisting families of the participants for years.

At nine, Willy would leave school, and his father would take him to 8th Street and 17th Avenue to sell newspapers to passing cars. "If I had told my mother in Cuba that I would be selling newspapers on the street in the United States, I can assure you she wouldn't have emigrated," he told Costa.

However, for Willy, it was an adventure. "I know it broke her heart to see me selling newspapers on the street. But for me, as a kid, it was interesting, it was fun," he recalled.

From Humble Beginnings to Architectural Fame

Years of hard work transformed that humble beginning into a top-tier professional career. Bermello founded Bermello Ajamil & Partners, which has become the largest Hispanic architecture and engineering firm in Florida, boasting over 200 design awards and projects like the cruise terminals at the Port of Miami and the Four Seasons Tower.

In 2026, he gained international recognition by independently designing the Trump Presidential Library proposal in Miami: a 47-story skyscraper standing 1,047 feet (319 meters) tall, planned beside the Freedom Tower—the very building that welcomed thousands of Cuban refugees between 1962 and 1974, including himself as an exile.

The project outshone a proposal to allocate 30 acres in Boca Raton and was publicly unveiled on March 31, 2026, when Eric Trump and President Donald Trump shared it on social media.

A Testament to Opportunity

Bermello reflected on what his story signifies. "This country offers immense opportunities for those with knowledge, the will to work, and a strong work ethic." He added, "There is no country in the world like the United States. Although I was born in Cuba and love it dearly, I have a profound love for this country that embraced us, adopted us, and where I have flourished professionally."

He also hinted at a major project in the works: rebuilding eight airports in Cuba, contingent on a transition and investment guarantees.