Project Team
Brian Felder, AIA, LEED AP
Principal
Ryan Claus
Project Manager
Cathryn Sinclair
Project Associate
Project Description
Nearly every building and street of Georgia’s first city, Savannah, is steeped in historic architectural and urban design influences. It was the Davenport House Museum that first led to the creation of the Savannah Historic Foundation, responsible for spearheading the preservation movement still thriving in Savannah today. Neighboring the Museum and originally constructed in 1890, The Kennedy Pharmacy stands as a testament to the rich architectural and commercial heritage of Savannah’s Downtown Historic District. Through this project the Kennedy Pharmacy will now serve the Davenport House Museum as offices, gift shop and public gathering space.
Throughout the years this humble two-story red brick building has filled a variety of roles including a pharmacy, tax office, and Chinese laundry. Through thoughtful restoration and rehabilitation, the Kennedy Pharmacy once again serves the public as a Gathering Space designed to educate, engage and celebrate with the local community.
The project’s biggest design challenge was providing adequate room for a Gathering Space. The program required a small addition that must be compatible with the integrity of the original historic materials, features and forms that could still be differentiated from the original historic contributing structure. To preserve the historic character, existing openings were maintained, and material loss was minimized. Respect was paid to the scale and proportion of the addition and a similar rhythm of solids to void was used along the primary facades, as to not overshadow the existing structure. The materials and architectural details included underwent thorough evaluation to ensure compatibility.
The streets along this site are lined with cobblestone sidewalks and centuries old live oaks leading to one of the city’s twenty-two parklike squares. The city’s streets were planned as an integrated network of residential areas, commercial blocks, and green spaces to promote walkable neighborhoods.
This design of this building is intended to preserve the existing surroundings and integrate them as part of the experience. The tall plate glass windows in the community space and gift shop allow natural light in and views of green spaces out, creating a space that feels connected to nature. This space inspires the public to explore, to engage, and to learn about the local history and culture.
