Telfair Academy of Arts & Sciences Restoration
Telfair Academy of Arts & Sciences Restoration
Savannah, GA
The Telfair Museum of Art selected Lord Aeck Sargent, working with Savannah-based Neil Dawson Architects, for the purpose of producing preliminary conceptual designs to guide the restoration of the interior and exterior building restoration goals.
The overall focus of the study confirmed that the primary function of the Academy is to be a showcase for the Telfair’s late 19th and early 20th century collection and that effort should be made to enhance the galleries and the visitor’s experience in an effort to reinforce the importance of the collection.
Additionally, several key spaces - the Rotunda, Sculpture Gallery, and the inclusion of period rooms as a component of the experience - were considered essential to preserve while reintroducing natural lighting through skylights and glass ceilings that were part of the original Lineau renovation.
An increase in visitor amenity space and education space is proposed to be accomplished through rehabilitation of support space in the lower level of the historic residence and restoration/rehabilitation of space in the four-story Annex.
All work performed will meet the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties and will target LEED Silver as a measure of the museum’s commitment to sustainability.