Hotel Bardo Savannah

To allow the hotel's new owner to maintain partial operations throughout the transformation, the project team tackled this historic renovation in three phases, beginning first with an expansion to the existing resort grounds, followed by a transformation of the property’s main restaurant (originally built in 1888), and ending with a complete renovation of the existing hotel. Ultimately, this renovation transforms the former Mansion on Forsyth Park into Hotel Bardo Savannah, a fully rebranded urban resort that transports guests to the effortless luxury of retro 1960’s travel and the Mediterranean coast.

The expansion phase of this renovation project adds 24 luxury suites with a variety of layout options for resort guests. Creating an inviting Mediterranean-inspired outdoor oasis for rest, relaxation, and rejuvenation, the project adds an expansive 27-meter-length pool flanked by cabanas, a poolside event lawn, and Bar Bibi – the resort’s poolside bar. A 2,800-SF, standalone Carriage House is also added to the property as a separate, flexible event space for guests and local residents.

This expansion phase overtook the hotel’s parking lot, which necessitated off-site parking for hotel staff and guests and greatly limited construction lay down and parking. Careful planning, logistical coordination, safety measures, and separation of construction, guest, and hotel operations were critical as the hotel and restaurant were in full operation during this phase.

The existing two-story main restaurant is transformed into the glamorous Saint Bibiana, bringing a coastal Italian-inspired concept to Savannah. This phase of the project features remodeled indoor and outdoor seating, chic private event space and private members club, as well as fully-equipped kitchen space to facilitate the resort’s culinary offerings, including immersive cooking classes.

Located in the original historic mansion, this phase included the relocation of the first- and second-floor bars, updating finishes as well as electrical and plumbing fixtures, and installing a new fire alarm system. The commercial kitchen was partially renovated while still supporting the hotel’s lobby bar and banquet rooms before the owners were able to operate the new restaurant independently from the hotel.

Rounding out this unique, multi-faceted project is the top-down renovation of the historic hotel itself. The existing guestrooms undergo extensive updates to revamp the space while maintaining the original timeless feel, as do the spa, ballroom, and food and beverage outlets also located within the resort.

This third and final phase of this historic renovation project also included the relocation of the check-in area, connecting the existing hotel to the expansion, demolition of the pool and courtyard, renovations to the spa, and a new fitness center.

Coming out of a post pandemic climate that resulted in severely extended material lead times and procurement challenges, the project team collaborated with the design team early in the process to choose a structural product that was least impacted by production delays, such as structural steel, bar joists, and composite deck.

In lieu of typical framing methods that can be more constraining on design, the team was able to prioritize function in the space and designate more square footage for revenue generation. The chosen framing system also did not require much room between floors, allowing the overall height of the building to be designed appropriately for the historic nature of the site and surrounding homes.