"The Municipal Grand: A Journey in Adaptive Reuse"

Historic Savannah Foundation (HSF), which is currently celebrating its 70th anniversary, will feature local architects and historic preservationists Sarah Ward, AICP of Ward Architecture + Preservation, Becki Harkness of Ward Architecture + Preservation and Mariel Hamer of Lynch Associates Architects as special guest speakers on Thursday, Nov. 20 at the Murray C. Perlman and Wayne C. Spear Preservation Center, located in the Historic Kennedy Pharmacy at 323 E. Broughton St. in Savannah, Ga.

Ward, Harkness, and Hamer will deliver an informative and engaging lecture titled "The Municipal Grand: A Journey in Adaptive Reuse" as part of the 2025 Historic Savannah Foundation Lecture Series, "The People, Places and Stories That Define Savannah." Attendees are invited to attend a wine reception at 5:30 p.m. The lecture will start at 6 p.m.

The rehabilitation of the former City of Savannah building and former First Federal Savings & Loan Association headquarters at the corner of Abercorn Street and Broughton Street in Savannah's National Historic Landmark District was a five-year project that required significant focus on pre-planning and sensitive design in response to changing markets and financing involving multiple owners.

Historic preservation incentives drove the decision-making for the adaptive reuse from a former bank and city office into The Municipal Grand, a mixed-use hotel, bar and restaurant. This ambitious effort required a listing in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and creative design approaches to retain historic features while adapting the building to new use.

Ward, Harkness and Hamer will discuss the need for historic preservation tools and incentives to follow preservation best practices and influence designs for new and replacement features. The team will also share about the history of the International Levy & Kiley designed building completed in 1961, as well as the rehabilitation designs and construction.

The Municipal Grand, located at 45 Abercorn St., is now open as a boutique hotel and restaurant.

Historic Savannah Foundation's Lecture Series is open to the public. Reservations are recommended, as space is limited. Attendance is free for Historic Savannah Foundation members and $15 for non-members. Both members and non-members may reserve their spot by visiting myhsf.org/events/lecture-series.