How Horan Building blends restorative craftsmanship with in-house expertise across Newport’s historic streets
In a seaside city that’s always buzzing with events, activities, and leisure pursuits – historic buildings, sailing, art and antiques shows, and folk and jazz festivals – Mark Horan, owner of Horan Building Co (Horan), feels proud to call Newport home, and sees it as the ideal place to run his company. Newport is shaped by some of America’s most celebrated architects, including McKim, Mead & White, George Champlin Mason, and Peabody & Stearns, and the city’s growing reputation is attracting even more clients.
“Newport’s a very rich architectural area,” Mark shares. “There’s an abundance of diversity in design, and we’re fortunate to work on some incredible architecture from the mid-1800s to 1900, a prolific period here with some of the best-known architects in our history, even today. McKim, Mead & White, for instance, also carried out work at Madison Square Garden and Columbia University.”
Focus on quality
Since launching in 1992, the custom home builder has offered a wide range of services. “Not only do we construct new builds on client property, but we also take on a lot of high-end renovations, many of them historic buildings. We offer design-build as well, and quite often purchase property to renovate and sell,” Mark explains. Shingle-style construction is prevalent in Newport, but the firm’s portfolio also features modern designs and, as Mark puts it, “every shape of Victorian.”
“It’s incredibly varied; we rarely build the same house twice,” he continues. “I like that: the opportunity, the creativity, and the ingenuity of trying new things and making each project site-specific. Everything should be based on orientation, light, usability, and access.”
That philosophy shines in a recent, complete gut renovation of a 144-year-old shingle-style home on Red Cross Avenue. Once again, it was a project originally designed by McKim, Mead & White. Once divided into a seven-unit apartment building, it’s now restored to three units: a main house with two adjacent dwellings. Red Cross features all-new mechanicals, kitchens, and cabinetry. Mark points out that the biggest challenge was protecting valuable original features while respectfully modernizing everything else.
“The early details were a blend of masonry, wood, and hand-carving, each specific to the house,” Mark recalls. “We had to make sure those remained and honor the past while bringing in the new. Hand-carved railings had been covered up, so we found a craftsman who could recreate them and kept that detail.” Mark also talks about opening up a balcony porch after removing a double wall, and uncovering original tile details and mantels that had been hidden. “We salvaged some of the original wood flooring, too. In the wainscoting panels along the stairway, we found the paper backing from the original millwork company, dated around 1882 with the maker’s insignia.” Even more remarkable, the team discovered hand engravings on the exterior door hinges from the craftsman who forged them over a century ago.
Alongside a strong commitment to preserving historic homes, Horan keeps finish work entirely in-house, including stairways, cabinetry, built-ins, and painting. “Although we’re fast, we’re not driven by time,” Mark emphasizes. “We focus on quality and follow a process we’ve honed over many years.” This continuity extends to subcontractors, as the firm relies on the same trusted teams for each project. Rather than chasing rapid expansion, the company prioritizes established relationships over doubling its volume. “I want to maintain the quality of work, grow deliberately, and pass it on to the next generation.”
Prioritizing preservation
Much of Horan’s restoration work takes place in Newport’s historic district, where most projects must meet guidelines rooted in National Park Service standards and the city’s own requirements. Years of experience have made this process second nature for the team. “We’ve worked within these preservation rules so many times that we’re very comfortable with the expectations, and it all makes sense,” Mark reflects. “Of course, there are elements you want to honor and keep, while sometimes a newer product is a better fit, but we always prioritize preservation.”
Newport’s vibrancy, bustle, and coastal charm are more apparent than ever, with the city’s profile changing in recent years and the firm’s client base now including people from the West Coast, Houston, Utah, Washington State, and even Europe. “Our customer base is much more diverse now,” Mark observes, crediting this to Newport’s busy events calendar and its reputation as a walkable, waterfront destination. “On a bigger scale, I see a very strong outlook for the future here. You can easily walk to the beach or downtown for lunch or an event. Then there’s the ferry to Providence, or Block Island, which you can hop on and explore. It’s a uniquely positioned place, and you really can’t duplicate it anywhere else.”
Looking ahead, Horan is developing six lots in nearby Middletown, part of a small, ten-lot community that borders eight acres of open space near the coast. “The first home is already fully framed,” Mark reports. “The development has a berry farm and a bird sanctuary nearby, and while we’re just getting started, it’s exciting to see the project come together.” Beyond new builds, the firm is also considering a bigger role in the design process and collaborating more closely with architects. Mark is passionate about investing in young talent entering the trades, as he believes this is essential as the construction industry continues to evolve.
