The Digby
Five story Savannah boutique hotel.
The Digby
The Project
This new mixed-use development in the heart of downtown Savannah is under construction. The Digby is a boutique hotel located next to Ellis Square. This five-story, commercial building is dedicated to high-end accommodations, short-term vacation rental with rooftop bar, ground floor restaurant and retail space. Proximity to the existing adjacent building was one substantial aspect of the design, resulting in the need for expansion joints.
The Client
Pioneer Construction led the construction effort with David Lochrane as the project manager and owner, Ric Brown. The team has navigated several challenges, from the tight site space to incorporating modern amenities within a historic setting. The architectural brilliance behind The Digby comes from Pantheon ADC, with Clif Cooper and James Galluci leading the design. They worked closely with 29E6 LLC for innovative solutions to tackle the project’s unique structural challenges.
Nestled in the heart of downtown Savannah, GA, The Digby stands proudly on the historic Ellis Square. This charming boutique hotel and restaurant is developed by Stature Investments, led by Yash Desai. The project reflects the company’s commitment to enriching Savannah’s cultural and economic landscape. The Digby is a six-story gem, part of the exclusive Unbound Collection by Hyatt. Its 36 guest rooms, basement lounge, ground floor restaurant, and rooftop bar offer a blend of modern luxury and Southern hospitality. The hotel’s design draws inspiration from the early 18th-century records of the Digby family, blending historical charm with contemporary elegance.
The Improvements
The building’s structural system is a feat of structural engineering. It features five stories of structural steel over a concrete first floor and basement, all supported by a mat slab
foundation. The lateral system is a dual approach, using the elevator core as a shear wall along with exterior steel moment frames. The lateral system was chosen to resist the high wind and moderate seismic forces in the area. The mat slab is a result of the site’s constraints within the historic district and its proximity to an existing parking garage. The high volume of windows and glass along with the fire requirements dictated the use of steel framing on building.
