Written and Photographed by Ben Elhav, Design plans by Brandon Halkitis
Savannah is a city renowned for its design. From the colonial mansions that adorn picturesque squares, to the beautifully landscaped Forsyth Park, to the historic homes preserved (and often reimagined) by SCAD, Savannah has attracted planners in every generation. As a bi-weekly column, this series asks Architecture and Interior Design students – what if things were different? What if Savannah were redesigned?
Born and raised in the Bahamas, Brandon Halkitis, architecture student, knew he would be an architect by the end of elementary school. He grew up interested in urban design and wanted to explore how structures could be enmeshed in nature and compliment their surroundings. Inspired by Savannah’s greenery and the building’s most precious features, Halkitis conceptualized a new plan to elevate the SCAD Student Center.
“As wonderful and minimalist concrete blocks look wherever they are in the world, why are they concrete blocks?” Halkitis said. To him, architecture isn’t merely aesthetic, but about human experience, texture and quality. He considers himself a traditionalist, believing that a building can be described not only in terms of form and function, but in reference to its concept as well. Everything must have a reason.
Halkitis finds that the best way to design is in context, and in Savannah, that means connecting to history. Even contemporary structures in Savannah look untouched, and the lush vegetation and faithful facades of most exteriors contribute to that effect. The city is planned meticulously. Even still, Halkitis believes SCAD positively transformed the experience within certain buildings while still maintaining timeless foundations. In many cases, places once foreboding and claustrophobic became bright and open.
However, the Student Center, Halkitis contends, is not a good example. “This building is lacking a central, unifying motif.” To Halkitis, a student center should bring visitors in and give them a reason to stay. Academic buildings at SCAD are bustling with life and energy, but most students seek moments to relax.
Halkitis thought, since the Student Center itself is situated in greenery – why not bring the outdoors inside?
Working from the third floor up, Halkitis would replace the roof with a glass canopy, keeping the stained glass for a centerpiece. A gradual transition would have exterior brick give way to a glass covering, that would enclose the building to form a greenhouse. By working with glass, Halkitis would simultaneously reference the iconic SCAD Museum of Art and bring in natural light from above, tying the space back to its origins as a Synagogue.
“This place right now is like a park without a sculpture,” Halkitis said. Descending from the center of the roof, a column of hanging plants including pothos, ivys, and lilies, would reach down into the atrium. Additional plants could then be incorporated into the arcades. Halkitis believes that this hanging garden of SCAD would attract new visitors to the space. At the same time, the new roof would preserve the building while catering to those who love more modern designs.
The new natural light from the roof would activate the stained glass centerpiece and draw eyes upward. At the same time, increased light could improve the mood in the space and make it more inviting. Such innovations could benefit the oft-neglected Student Center, making it a true space for people to congregate and work. Instead of it being one more building with printers and computers, the Student Center could become a hub for student activity.
