Historical Restoration
Savannah City Hall
City Architect - Savannah, Georgia
City Hall Exterior Restoration
Savannah, Georgia
City Architect
Savannah Design and Construction Group
$1.7 Million
2007
City Hall was designed and built by local architect Hyman Wallace Witcover in 1904-1905. The structure is a Renaissance Revival building with classic proportions and detailing.
As city Architect Perdue recognized the building was badly in need of extensive restoration. The cupola walls leaked and pieces of the interior limestone in the dome were falling off. The granite on the exterior of the building was crumbling. The gold leaf on the dome, which had replaced in 1998, was disappearing.
(Photo: After renovation. Note stairway and rail around cupola for safer access to flagpole.)
While not able to convince the city to restore the building interior, Perdue was allowed to proceed with the exterior renovation.
The restoration involved structural engineering of the dome and replacement of the cupola. Also, as there had been no safe way to access the flag and flagpole flying from the cupola the new design included a platform and ladder. All exterior granite stone was repointed and waterproofed. The restoration also included new roofs and replacement of gutters.
The structural engineer and roofing consultant, ADC Engineering, was recognized for their work:
(2009 * RCI Document Competition,
Second Place – City of Savannah
City Hall Bell Tower Building / Building Envelope
and Large Design project.)
City Hall prior to renovation:
Note condition of granite exterior,
eroded gold leaf on dome
(after being replaced a few years earlie
by a substandard contractor), and
lack of safe access to flagpole by workers.
Note condition of granite exterior,
eroded gold leaf on dome
(after being replaced a few years earlie
by a substandard contractor), and
lack of safe access to flagpole by workers.
City Hall
stands tall as part of Savannah's riverfront skkyline