The newly named Hotel Bardo Savannah undergoes extensive renovations to bring guests an elevated experience through enhanced amenities and expanded service offerings. Nestled adjacent to Savannah's iconic Forsyth Park in the heart of the city’s historic downtown district, this one-of-a-kind property offers visitors a new luxury resort destination underpinned by Romanesque revival architecture and thoughtful interior design.

To allow the hotel's new owner to maintain partial operations throughout the transformation, the project team tackles 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 will transform 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.

Phase 3: Full Mansion Revitalization

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.

Construction Innovation Prioritizing Functionality, Guest Experience

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.

Constructing an Inclusive, Guest-Focused Hospitality Experience

Throughout the entire project, portions of the resort remained occupied and open. The project team’s successful and seamless transition from one phase to the next was a direct result of the intense planning and logistical coordination, early procurement, schedule management, timely execution by key trade partners, and a strong partnership between hotel management, the construction team, ownership, and the design team.

As part of this historic revitalization and an homage to the local community, Hotel Bardo Savannah will also offer a club membership for area residents that provides access to the new expansive fitness facility, pool, and private club above Saint Bibiana. The unique ideology of this being an “urban resort,” membership provides an opportunity for hotel guests to be a part of the community, and vice versa, transforming the luxurious resort into a community asset that can be utilized by everyone. This inclusive concept fosters a sense of ownership and pride in the community for this beautiful downtown oasis.