| Property | Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC |
|---|---|
| Rose’s role | Specialty metal subcontractor to a restoration firm |
| Surfaces | Brass entry portal: west entry floor, exterior and interior drum |
| Timing | 2026 |
At the Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum, Rose Restoration restored the brass entry portal in 2026, working as a subcontractor to a restoration firm. The scope covered the west entry floor and the exterior and interior of the entrance drum.
What the entrance needed
Architectural brass at a public entrance is handled by thousands of visitors and exposed to weather on one side. Over time it darkens, streaks and loses the even finish it was designed to have.
What we did
Rose restored the brass of the entry portal, inside and out, along with the brass at the west entry floor, bringing the surfaces back to an even finish as part of a larger restoration led by another firm.
What a similar building can learn
Brass and bronze at a building’s front door set the first impression. Restoring them is specialist work that fits inside a larger project, so a lead contractor can bring in a metal specialist for that scope alone.
Planning work in an occupied building?
Send drawings or a few photos and we will tell you what the surfaces need and how the work can be scheduled around the people using the space. Send photos · Request a quote · (703) 327-7676
Related metal and institutional work
Rose Restoration has delivered architectural metal restoration and related services for:
- Metal restoration — Brass, bronze and stainless
- IMF Headquarters — Elevator floors
- Virginia State Capitol — Marble, terrazzo and brass
- Government restoration — Federal and institutional buildings
- All case studies — Project portfolio
Quick answers
What did Rose Restoration do at the Smithsonian?
Rose restored the brass entry portal at the Hirshhorn Museum in 2026, including the west entry floor and the exterior and interior drum, as a subcontractor to a restoration firm.
Does Rose work as a subcontractor on larger restoration projects?
Yes. At the Hirshhorn, Rose handled the brass scope inside a larger project led by another restoration firm.
historic building restoration · marble restoration · stone restoration in Washington DC
