DESIGN |
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A two-queen, River View room. |
Whip Triplett, COO, North Point Hospitality |
Pat Shay, president and senior principal, GMShay Architects |
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opportunity to go all the way and achieve the highest level of sustainability possible.
The old Savannah Electric Power Company( SEPCO) building along the waterfront was on an idyllic spot, but its many structural issues made remediation impossible. Thus began a rigorous cooperation with the Savannah Historic District Board of Review
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( HDBR), first to gain permission to demolish the old building, then to install the requisite sustainability features. GMShay presented it as an opportunity.
“ We said,‘ Let’ s take the building, which wasn’ t very handsome— it’ s mid-century modern, but it was designed by guys that designed power plants— and turn it into an advantage,’” said Shay.“ Let’ s
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take an environmental problem and come back with something that is as excellent as anything that will ever be done from an environmental standpoint in Savannah. And that logic prevailed.”
With its lofty goal set, design began in 2015. Construction would take nearly a decade, every detail requiring extra attention. Four new water and sewer
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mains and half a mile of pipeline were installed, requiring an arduous negotiation with the HDBR, but Shay was adamant the building be energy efficient and conserve water without compromising shower experience.
It also had to shed water— enough to withstand Savannah’ s frequent storms— without compromising air quality. The
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The lobby area. |
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52 hotelsmag. com November 2025 |