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Project Location: 301 West Broughton Street Suite 301 Savannah, GA       

Client:              Broughton Street 301, LLC      Bruce Jacobs  217 East Gordon Street    Savannah, GA

Type of Services:  Historic Preservation Rehabilitation Architecture     Engineering 

Date Completed:  2003

Awards:        2005               AIA Savannah Architectural Merit Award

     Office of LKS Architects                             Savannah, Georgia
        
An architectural firm faces particular challenges when designing its own office since this becomes not only its work space, but a product upon which clients and potential clients will judge the firm’s work. It is also a project in which the entire staff has a personal interest in the design process. In this case, the firm restored a historic building shell and then chose 2,700 square feet of unfinished space in which to design their new office. The goal was to design a space that re-enforced the firm’s team-approach to design and to show respect for the basic building materials often overlooked or covered over in the construction process. It was also very important to retain the openness of the 12-foot ceiling space and the natural light afforded by the many large windows. The budget was very tight; the budget was blown – but only slightly.

The 4-story 1850s building is a combination of load-bearing masonry, heavy timber, and steel columns and beams with storefront on the lower 2 floors. The space occupied by the Architect’s office is on the third floor. The existing plaster on the exterior walls was retained in its damaged condition and painted. Existing bead-board ceiling was cleaned and painted sky-blue. Existing heart pine floors were refinished. All new walls and partitions are wood-stud frame covered with gypsum wallboard, southern yellow pine plywood, OSB, or galvanized metal except where the framing is left exposed. Electrical conduit, mechanical ductwork, and the fire sprinkler piping are exposed. Glass fills the space between the 9-foot high walls and the 12-foot ceiling in the few “private” spaces. The HVAC is provided by 2 electrical heat pumps. All lighting is either indirect fluorescent or halogen.

301 West Broughton Street, Suite 301, Savannah, Georgia 31401
phone 912.232.5561  fax 912.232.5562   lks@lksarchitects.com