Savannah's architectural story gets a modern chapter with the Municipal Grand. AAmp Studio has transformed a 1961 bank into a sophisticated boutique hotel that honors its mid-century roots

The Renaissance of a Mid-Century Landmark

On a storied corner in Savannah, Georgia, where Spanish moss drapes over classic squares, a stark mid-century landmark has been reimagined. AAmp Studio, with offices in Toronto and Portland, has transformed the former First Federal Savings and Loan Association building - a six-storey, 1961 structure by local architects Levy and Kiley - into the Municipal Grand, a 44-room boutique hotel that is a sophisticated ode to its architectural past and a beacon for the city’s vibrant future. Rather than erase the past, AAmp Studio layered new texture, tone, and softness onto the building’s original rectilinear canvas, ensuring this landmarked structure is appreciated for generations to come.

A Synthesis of Modern Influences

While Savannah is celebrated for its Antebellum grace, the city possesses an unheralded lineage of post-war modernist architecture. Municipal Grand stands as a proud renewal of this legacy. AAmp co-founder Anne-Marie Armstrong noted the intent to "celebrate this legacy of mid-century design on the city at-large".

The original 36,850 square-foot structure featured grey granite walls, white concrete frames, and distinctive blue mosaic tile. Working with preservation experts Ward Architecture + Preservation, AAmp delicately peeled back history to restore Levy and Kiley’s first vision. This original structure - hard-edged and rectilinear - was then elegantly softened through the design interventions, with the addition of warm textures, curvilinear geometries, and a rich palette. Co-founder Andrew Ashey saw the conversion as an "amazing opportunity for creative design interventions that united historic and new in a very holistic fashion.”

Tropical Modernism in the Public Realm

The ground floor public spaces are an evocative testament to Tropical Modernism. The formerly austere entrance on bustling Broughton Street is now a welcoming transition, with new lighting, seating, and flourishing planters that blur the line between inside and out.

The heart of the experience is the double-height lobby and lounge, anchored by the expansive, semi-circular Municipal Bar. Drawing inspiration from mid-century masters like Roberto Burle Marx (botanical impulses) and Oscar Niemeyer (sumptuous curves), AAmp integrated flora and undulations throughout. Rounded banquettes and carefully placed plants contrast with the restored original blue mosaic tiles cladding interior columns and the mezzanine wall. Municipal Grand is the debut luxury boutique venture from Midnight Auteur, the integrated hospitality company created by the founders of the renowned Death & Co brand and Denver’s celebrated Ramble Hotel. As Midnight Auteur’s Ryan Diggins puts it, "We hold a deep, and slightly obsessive, reverence for the all-day lobby bar, which is really the foundation of Midnight Auteur".

Beyond the main lobby, the hotel offers two distinct social spaces:

Hot Eye: Tucked away on the basement level, this cozy neighborhood cocktail bar is imbued with dark terrazzo, deep stained wood, and shades of red, offering a moodier, intimate retreat.

Sun Club: The hotel’s rooftop open-air bar offers views of the city’s spires and port. It features a new swimming pool surrounded by terraced lounge seating and an azure zellige tile retaining wall, a direct call-back to the original blue mosaic.

Nordic Quietude in the Guest Rooms

In contrast to the vibrant public areas, the guest rooms, which span the mezzanine through the sixth floors, lean into a quieter Finnish modern influence, informed by the works of Alvar Aalto. Each of the five configurations offers a serene sanctuary: A vestibule in a rich shade of green leads into the bathroom, which features a curved entry for the shower, a curved vanity mirror, a red marble counter, and brass fixtures atop a terrazzo floor.

Past the vestibule, a millwork threshold, reminiscent of the lobby’s preserved wood paneling, frames the main space. Rooms are outfitted with marble bar tops—a natural extension for a hospitality brand known for elevated cocktail experiences—offering bespoke spirits, coffee, and beautiful glassware. Custom wood and velvet headboards anchor the beds, and comfortable banquette seating provides a dual space for lounging or impromptu work.

With its blend of preservation and modern intervention, the Municipal Grand is a treasured fixture in Savannah, offering visitors a second home - a place both to retreat and to celebrate.