The �Topping Out� Ceremony is a custom that originated in Scandinavia around 700 A.D., to signal the completion of a structure and to appease the gods and ancestral spirits living in the trees cut and used for the construction project.  In modern times, builders place an evergreen tree at the site of the uppermost steel or concrete structure marking the final stretch in the building�s progress and recognizing the fine efforts of the construction crew.  The Mansion on Forsyth Park raised an 8 ft. Magnolia Tree which was then donated to the City of Savannah and was planted in Forsyth Park.  The original 18,000-square-foot Mansion was built in 1888 and will be converted to house the lobby, 700 Drayton Restaurant

(L to R) Richard C. Kessler, President and CEO of The Kessler Collection - Owner of the Mansion on Forsyth Park and Ross Grieve, President and CEO , PCL Construction Group, INC.

The adjacent four-story building will be comprised of 126 oversized rooms of which 16 are suites, the 3,500-square-foot Poseidon Spa and fitness center, a bar, and an outdoor pool.  Each room will feature a classical and elegant design with a modern edge by offering 9 ft. or 12 ft. ceilings, four fixture baths with oversized soaking tubs, Vintage or whirlpool tubs, pillow top mattresses, down comforters and pillows, two dual-line telephones with dataport for high-speed Internet access, CD clock radio, in-room safe and flat screen televisions will be featured in the suites.   The Bohemian floor, located on the 2nd level, will feature draped bathroom walls and a dramatically different color scheme. 

The Mansion, poised to be a five-diamond hotel, will feature over 8,431-square-feet of flexible meeting space.   The Grand Bohemian Gallery, a Kessler Collection Gallery, will open its third location within the hotel. Based in Orlando and located within The Westin Grand Bohemian Hotel and the Celebration Hotel - sister properties, the Grand Bohemian Gallery will feature a selection of original oil paintings, bronze and wood sculptures, art glass, contemporary jewelry, and unique gift items. 

The hotel will be showcasing over 200 pieces of unique, European and American artwork throughout the hotel and in each guestroom.  The art collection will consist of oil and watercolor paintings, bronze sculptures, art glass and marble pieces in addition to antique mirrors, chandeliers and Lalique glass door knobs.  Each piece of art was hand selected by the hotel�s owner, Richard C. Kessler, who has been an avid art collector for the past 35 years.  In addition to the rare art, a ladies hat collection dating from 1860 to 1960, will adorn the walls outside of the Viennese ballroom next to a Grand Bösendorfer Piano. 

The Mansion on Forsyth Park shares the legendary name and refined standards of Richard C. Kessler�s hotel collection.