202 West Bay Street, Savannah
Built in the early 1800s, the building at 202 W. Bay Street along Savannah’s historic riverfront is defined by its distinctive ballast stone construction, which reflects the maritime practices of using stone to stabilize ships which were later repurposed in coastal construction. This resulted in utilitarian commercial architecture designed for fire resistance and durability. This proved true when the Cotton Fire of 1885 destroyed much of the interior, but the exterior walls remained structurally sound.  Recent restoration work focused on stabilization, conservation, and weatherproofing of the exterior masonry envelope and windows. Inappropriate repairs from the 20th Century had resulted in water intrusion, leading to significant mortar and stone deterioration, structural movement, and timber decay. This project addressed these issues with deep repointing and stone and brick replacement where needed, using compatible lime-based mortar. Metal ties and plates were protected to reduce corrosion, archways supported and repaired, and non-historic windows were replaced with historically compatible wood windows and weather-stripping for energy efficiency. This work ensures the building continues to reflect the distinctive ballast stone construction unique to Savannah’s riverfront.
Excellence in Preservation Awards recognize the appropriate preservation of historic resources and creative interpretations of historic sites.
