Client:
The Homer Building
Builder:
James Davis Construction
Location:
601 13th St NW, Washington, DC 20005
Cochran & Mann Project Managers:
Keith McDonald
Project Specs:
Interior Paint and Wallcovering
Project Overview
The Homer Building blends D.C.'s rich history with the energy of today’s business world. Built in the early 1900s, it still shows off its original Beaux-Arts design—think stonework, grand arches, and timeless elegance. It's a landmark in the Metro Center district, one of the city's busiest hubs for transit, business, and culture. Surrounded by high-end shops, top restaurants, and major office buildings, the Homer Building stands out by staying true to its roots. Today, it's home to modern companies, proving that a building can keep its history and still be right at the center of what’s next.
As demands for workspaces have evolved, so too has the need for buildings like the Homer to adapt while maintaining their iconic presence. This was the backdrop for the latest endeavor—a remodel of the building’s grand atrium. The goal? To breathe new life into this central space by turning it into a vibrant, functional lounge and conference area.
Challenges
The remodel wasn’t just a facelift—it was a reimagining. The newly designed space now boasts a double-height glass conference room that can be configured to meet a variety of professional needs. This adaptable area opens seamlessly into the atrium, creating an inviting flow that merges modern design with the building's historic character.
The remodel includes a speakeasy-style lounge and a small, private conference room on the north side—perfect for laid-back meetings or casual networking. You’ll find a modern broadcast studio and a fully loaded boardroom on the south side. It’s not just a good-looking space—it’s built to handle the fast pace of today’s business world.
The vision was clear: create a cohesive, luxurious space that invites collaboration while respecting the architectural integrity of the Homer Building. Achieving that vision, however, required precision, patience, and a lot of scaffolding.
Meeting the Challenge: Remodeling an Active Building
Executing a renovation of this scale in an active, publicly accessible building presented unique challenges. Tenants continued their daily operations while Cochran & Mann and the construction teams worked around them.
Key Challenges Included:
- Removing original steel trusses from the atrium architecture, a significant demolition challenge
- Extensive scaffolding to reach the atrium’s towering ceilings
- Labor-intensive swing stage relocation after each section was complete
- Maintaining strict safety protocols at great heights
- Coordinating around other active trades working in parallel
- Managing noise and protecting building occupants
General Contractor: James Davis Construction
Scope of Work: Prep, prime, and paint drywall partitions, ceilings, and trims in the atrium.
Products Used: Sherwin-Williams Duration was applied throughout for its durability and finish quality.
Maintaining open communication with James Davis Construction was critical. Regular planning sessions and updates ensured everyone stayed aligned, and that tenant disruptions were kept to a minimum.
The Feedback
“Our team was amazing on this job, both with safety and quality. We practiced safe work habits and made sure the customer was taken care of while not sacrificing safety in the process. Very neat and clean and took pride in the work.
The Davis team was very understanding with the way the process went. Being a complex job with calculated phasing due to working off a swing stage, they were supportive with our approach to all aspects of the project. I would 100% work with that team again!”
— Keith McDonald, Vice President, Cochran & Mann
Collaboration at Its Core
This remodel wasn’t just about construction—it was about partnership—collaboration defined every step of the process from architects to engineers to on-site managers.
Every trade on-site had to be in sync, especially while sharing scaffolding, swing stages, and narrow timelines. This spirit of teamwork helped ensure quality stayed high, even with the logistical complexity.
Final Result: An Elevated Experience
Today, the remodeled atrium at the Homer Building is a hub of innovation and sophistication. It’s more than a gathering space—it’s an experience. Tenants and visitors alike benefit from a high-functioning, aesthetically striking environment that bridges the gap between tradition and transformation.
The finished project delivers on every level:
- Functionality: Flexible layouts and top-tier professional amenities
- Luxury: Premium finishes with design-forward features
- Legacy: A respectful enhancement of the building’s historic identity
