Savannah Cultural Arts Center

Project Summary

Located at the corner of Montgomery and Oglethorpe Streets, the new cultural arts center is an attraction where locals and visitors alike can not only see art, hear music and enjoy performances, but also participate in creating art. Spaces include: community theatre, gallery, performing arts studio, hand ceramic studio, wheel ceramic studio, visual arts studio, and a metals & glass studio. This was the first time the City has utilized the Construction Manager at Risk method.  The team worked together early in the process to drive down costs and reduce the number of unknowns in this historic, downtown location. Extensive safety, traffic and security measures were employed during construction. M. B. Kahn teamed with Polote Construction, a local firm, and architects Gunn Meyerhoff Shay, also of Savannah. On this site, one of Savannah’s finest mansions – built by Augustus Wetter – was demolished in 1950 to create the surface parking area that covered the entire area for a used car lot. Only one structure remaining from the 1800’s was a small garden shed. M. B. Kahn discovered and carefully uncovered the brick floor and remnants of the historic Wetter House in Savannah. The brick remains were preserved & incorporated into the project.