Broughton Streetscape, the first of three sites planned for renovation, makes extensive use of Pine Hall Brick Company’s Rumbled Pavers in a unique color mix of 70 percent Cocoa and 30 percent Red. All photos by Harold Beaty.
In downtown Savannah, Georgia, going new meant going old.
And Pine Hall Brick clay pavers are a big part of the effort. The Broughton Streetscape was recently completed. It’s the first of three projects.
Savannah, like many cities, has begun a downtown revitalization initiative. And like many cities, genuine clay pavers are a big part of the mix. They bring today’s durability and yesterday’s design aesthetic,
The resulting streetscape plan and implementation for three of the city’s most storied thoroughfares preserve the city’s history and timeless beauty, while continuing to exceed visitors’ expectations.
The city has begun to reclaim some of its most notable streets and urban corridors for its people. The effort draws inspiration from the town’s historic and coastal roots. The streetscape design concept features widened sidewalks and new walkways. There are also information kiosks, bike racks and lanes, medians, bioswales, and plantings. It’s all to improve the pedestrian experience.
Architect Kona Gray, FASLA, PLA, of EDSA Inc. in Fort Lauderdale, Florida helped oversee the project design scope. Conceptual design, detailed design, and construction documentation were completed over 18 months.
The entire scale of the project included three complete streets, Broughton, Bay, and River. This encompasses 36 blocks. The first phase to be completed was Broughton Street. It was the historic retail corridor in the city. Once fully implemented, the plan will provide a safe, walkable public realm. The goal is to enrich resident quality of life. It is centered upon visual identity, green infrastructure, ADA and bicycle safety, smart transportation, historic preservation, and vehicular functionality.
Getting buy-in from the public and the city
The Design Team conducted several public meetings to build consensus and garner feedback for the project. The detail design process was informed by meetings with city departments from public works to traffic. Designers needed to understand the long-term durability required from the materials selected.
The Team collaborated with hardscape and landscape material suppliers to meet the needs of the effort.
The resulting streetscape plan and implementation for three of the city’s most storied thoroughfares preserve the city’s history and timeless beauty, while continuing to exceed visitors’ expectations.
The choice was clear
The design team wanted to honor the history and essence of the City of Savannah. It was clear that the materials needed to be natural and in keeping with the historic nature of the city.
Materials chosen included natural clay brick, local granite and stone due to their timeless look and durability.
In addition, the materials selected had to be vetted and compared with alternate products including concrete. However, after several conversations and comparison, the client, city staff, community, and design team all agreed that clay brick, granite and stone were the right decision to move the project forward. The deciding factors were durability and aesthetics.
As site preparation work moved forward, an expert in paver installation, Eddie Galvao, and his company, GP Hardscape Pavers, of Cumming, Georgia, were brought on board.
Today – and for decades to come – the public will reap the benefits of the partnership between those who designed the project and those who built it. Pine Hall Brick Company is proud to have played a role.
