Along the illustrious stretch of Pennsylvania Avenue between the U.S. Capitol and the White House, stately, classically styled buildings are the norm. Case in point: 1001 Penn, a fixture on this thoroughfare, was designed by Hartman-Cox Architects in 1987 to incorporate the façades of the Victorian-era buildings that previously stood on the site.

In 2022, the 14-story granite, brick and limestone structure underwent a major overhaul of its interior spaces. In a collaborative effort, FOX Architects,
Hickok Cole and HYL Architecture reimagined the outdated office building as a dynamic multi-use facility, breathing fresh life into its public spaces and offices while adding a two-story conference facility, an 8,000-square-foot fitness center and 41,000 square feet of ground-level retail.

Among the altered spaces is the 20,000-square-foot atrium lobby (right), which boasts a soaring, barrel-vaulted rotunda. “The central atrium is devoted entirely to circulation, light and vibrancy,” says JP Spickler, a FOX Architects principal. Marble floors and bronze accents complement walls clad in limestone and vertical wooden slats. Chic furniture groupings are illuminated by a cascading, 65-foot-tall Yellow Goat Design chandelier bearing 800 color-changing glass globes. A marble wine bar completes the space.

Interior Architecture & Design: FOX Architects, Washington, DC; Hickok Cole, Washington, DC. General Contractor: Rand Construction, Washington, DC. Photography: Garrett Rowland.