Georgia Historical Society, Hodgson Hall

Georgia Historical Society’s Hodgson Hall is one of the most significant structures within Savannah’s Landmark Historic District. Designed by Detlef LienauIt, the founder of the American Institute of Architects, Hodgson Hall is one of the oldest library buildings in the United States and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The project scope included the full interior restoration of the original library and the addition of new archival space. The program of the archive space limited the fenestration on the exterior walls, so the design team created a solution that would activate the street facing façade through display window cases, a pedestrian loggia and enhanced courtyard design, and a new glazed “hyphen” to offset the solidity of the Annex. The detailing of the addition is intended to complement the historic building, but with more simplified and contemporary detailing in order to set it apart.