After 6 months, Savannah’s City Hall got its top back as a replica of a 102-year-old cupola was installed atop the domed building.
Savannah’s new city hall cupola arrived a bit like an Ikea bookcase; some assembly required. A base of steel and copper, two bells and a copper dome filled with concrete were lifted one by one to the roof of the circa 1907 building.
The 16 foot tall structure is an exact replica of the original, with a few modern twists. The concrete in the original was made with crushed seashells and woodchips. The replica’s mix isn’t quite so exotic. Builders used all the same materials but say their modern counterparts should prove sturdier.
The original cupola is going to be restored and placed somewhere the elements won’t cause further deterioration.
The cupola and dome are made of copper but will be covered in gold leaf in the next few weeks. The roof work is part of a restoration of the entire outside of the building. It should be done by Summer with a price tag just more than $2 million.
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