Arcollab, in partnership with Ethos Preservation, led the restoration of Savannah City Hall’s most significant public interiors as part of a once-in-a-generation effort to preserve one of Georgia’s most iconic civil landmarks.
Completed in 1906 and continuously occupied since its opening, Savannah City Hall remains the center of municipal government, housing the offices of the Mayor, City Council, Clerk of Council, City Attorney, and city Manager. The building also contains the Municipal Archives, which preserves and exhibits many of Savannah’s most important historical documents and artifacts.
Designed by Savannah architect Hyman Witcover, the monumental Beaux-Arts building commands a prominent position overlooking the historic waterfront. Its richly detailed interiors feature extensive marble, mosaic tile, stained oak, mahogany millwork, and ornamental plasterwork. The generous use of electric lighting throughout the public spaces reflected Savannah’s aspirations as a progressive twentieth-century city.
The restoration balanced the stewardship of these historic interiors with the functional requirements of a modern municipal building. Work included the restoration of the entry lobby, four-story rotunda, City Council Chamber, grand stair hall, and the Municipal Archives offices and History Room, all while integrating necessary building systems improvements.
Serving as the Architect of Record, Arcollab led the design team in developing restoration strategies, master planning, HVAC modernization, structural repairs, and interior design. In the Municipal Archives History Room, originally the Treasurer’s public office, Arcollab directed the removal of modern finishes and restoration of original details beneath which had been damaged or stripped through years of changing usage. Led both by documentation of the room’s original features and modern need for museum-level exhibits and presentation space, Arcollab designed custom millwork which replicated the original Treasurer’s teller counter while also providing ample room for artifact display and storage.The thoughtfully-detailed and carefully crafted rehabilitation of City Hall ensured that the building’s historic character was preserved while supporting its continued use asSavannah’s governmental civic center.
