TVS Completes $276M Expansion of Savannah Convention Center

The project doubles the size of the celebrated riverfront venue while enhancing its sustainability and public spaces.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Atlanta-based architecture firm TVS has completed a major $276 million expansion of the Savannah Convention Center, doubling the size of the celebrated riverfront venue on Hutchinson Island. The project introduces 100,000 square feet of new exhibit space, a 40,000-square-foot ballroom, 23,000 square feet of meeting rooms, and a new 900-space parking garage, all designed with a focus on sustainability and improving the overall guest experience.

Why it matters

The expansion of the Savannah Convention Center is a significant investment in the city's tourism and convention infrastructure, allowing it to accommodate larger events and attract more visitors to the historic riverfront district. The project's emphasis on sustainable design and enhanced public spaces also contributes to Savannah's evolving architectural landscape.

The details

The expansion delivers a state-of-the-art facility with new entry plazas, façades, registration lobbies, and a sixth-floor ballroom with a rooftop terrace offering views of the Savannah skyline. Sustainable features include stormwater management, a reflective roof membrane, high-performance glazing, and the use of native plants in the landscaping to reduce water consumption.

  • The Savannah Convention Center originally opened in 2000 as the Savannah International Trade and Convention Center.
  • The $276 million expansion project was completed in 2026.

The players

TVS

An Atlanta-based architecture, interior design, and planning firm that designed the Savannah Convention Center expansion.

Savannah-Georgia Convention Center Authority

The organization that commissioned the expansion project.

Hansen Architects

The architecture firm that collaborated with TVS on the project.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Our goals for the design were to create a seamless and sympathetic extension of the existing facility and to provide an appropriately grand and gracious 'Savannah experience' from arrival to event.”

— Jay Thomson, Principal at TVS (buildingenclosureonline.com)

“Sustainability was at the core of every design decision. The expansion not only doubles the center's capacity but also demonstrates how large-scale civic projects can coexist responsibly with their natural environment.”

— Paul McKeever, Principal at TVS (buildingenclosureonline.com)

What’s next

The expanded Savannah Convention Center is expected to host its first major event in the fall of 2026.

The takeaway

The Savannah Convention Center expansion represents a significant investment in the city's tourism infrastructure, doubling the venue's capacity while incorporating sustainable design principles that enhance its integration with the surrounding natural environment and historic riverfront district.