POETTER HALL

Savannah, GA

The building originally was the Savannah Volunteer Guards Armory, designed by architect William Preston in 1893. Preston was hired to design the building, having established himself in the city since designing the Chatham County courthouse in 1889. Preston would go on to design several other Romanesque Revival buildings in the city. This design was in the Richardsonian Romanesque style.

In 1979, the building was acquired by the newly-created Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) to serve as their first academic building. At the time, the building was in a deteriorated state, and a large-scale renovation commenced. The building, rechristened Preston Hall after its architect, opened in September 1979, and the following year, SCAD was recognized by the Historic Savannah Foundation for their preservation efforts with this building. The building was later renamed again, in honor of May and Paul Poetter, two cofounders of SCAD and parents of fellow SCAD cofounder Paula Wallace.

Savannah is filled with architectural marvels, of all styles and eras. But none have captured my attention like Poetter Hall. There is a majesty in how its elements are ordered – from sidewalk to roof, and from left to right; in how is address Madison Square, both giving and commanding respect. Unlike most buildings of this age, it thrives on its asymmetry, which requires finer skills than found in the repetitive nature of symmetrical buildings. This one has character. If this building were a presidential candidate, I would vote for it.