J. G. Smith Elementary School was

chartered in 1950. It is located at

210 Lamara Drive near Habersham Village

in Savannah, GA. It is a Title 1 school and serves as the Traditional Magnet school for the Savannah Chatham County Public School System. J.G. Smith focuses on mastering basic academic skills and developing effective study habits with an emphasis placed on citizenship and American Heritage. It offers accelerated programs as well as certified special education programs to 412 students from pre-K thru 5th grade. It also offers art, band, strings, chorus, safety patrol and numerous other clubs. It is no wonder that students and faculty alike roar with pride and are happy to be a part of lion tradition.

Welcome to the Media Center at

J.G. Smith Elementary School

Existing Media Center

Circulation Desk

Book

Return

Computer Area

Su

pp

ly

Sto

rage

Book

Storage

Teacher

ResourceEquipment

Storage

Fiction/Picture Books

Chapter

Books

KitchenNon-Fiction

Office

Video/DVD

Magazines

Mechanical

Video/DVD

Seating

Book Return & Circulation Desk

Students return books to the cubby

designated for their classroom. The

location is convenient and the space

can be used to sort books before

checking them in.

The circulation desk is new - as is the

flat screen computer hidden behind

our greenery. The red star basket

holds markers for students to use

while looking for books.

Computers and Resource Areas

The M.C. has six computers and one

printer available for students and

teachers. They are at the front of the

MC in a busy pathway.

The teacher resource/conference area

is another example of our limited

space. This area is must often double

as a prep area for books.

Office and Work areas

The Media Specialist’s “office” is

squeezed in between non-fiction and

the kitchen. There is very little work

surface and the oversized chair

makes it even more cramped.

The laminator is in the back of the

Media Center. Because this is next to

the stage, it cannot be used during

story time or presentations. Notice the

mechanical unit in the video closet.

Bookshelves and Stage

The media center has 11000 volumes located on shelving units that are 42” and

60” high. Picture books are located on the lower shelves making access easy

for younger students. The shorter shelves also allow for book display along with

the two-sided display table. Chapter books are on the stage.

The artwork was done by students at the school. It’s great, but cannot be easily

updated or added to.

I wanted a big change for our media center, but I also wanted to see

what might be truly possible in terms of a remodel.

Structurally I added 12 feet to the entire width of the existing space

and removed the plywood walls that were added to create the

storage closets. I moved the least used school storage closet to the

mechanical /VCR. This also gives access from the hall. I expanded

the space from the other closets to create an office for the Media

Specialist. A large picture window in the wall would allow for a clear

view of the entire room. For easy access, all doors would be at

least 32” and passageways

would be at least 36”.

The biggest (and most expensive) change

would be to relocate and update the kitchen

and create a large storage area in the

existing kitchen space(Existing Kitchen)

Student

Work

Display

MS Office

Circulation

Non-Fiction

Fiction Middle Grades

Bio

.

Easy Reading

Videos

Chapter Books

Teacher Resource

Prep AreaLaminator

Classroom/Computers

Research Comp.

Conference

Storage

Storage/Mech

Kitchen

Exterior

Entrance

Audio

Books

Die Cutter

Pro.

Board

Display Table

Lamp

Mural above circulation

Story

time

chair

To add a touch (just a touch) of practicality, I reused some

existing fixtures such as the bookshelves, but I brought in

brighter tables and chairs with varying cutouts to better fit the

younger students as well as to add color. The color scheme

would be woods with greens, blues and deep oranges and reds

to blend with a rainforest rug and mural that would

set the theme.

Easy reading tables in

“frog green”

Animal cut-out

chair

Optional tabletop

for one of the easy

reading tables

Research Computer

Stations

Sofa and

Chairs

Mural

Students will jump

for joy!

Rug

A new rocking chair would be located at the base of the stage for story time.

Also (as one Kindergarten teacher requested) I would purchase a puppet

theater and puppets. This could be used for story time and creative writing

class. More overhead light (a combination of general drop-in fluorescent

panels and down-lights with pendants over the seating area) plus a lamp on

stage will provide needed lighting.

The existing two-sided display table would be painted a

high gloss deep orange and relocated in the seating area

for easy access to books and magazines.

This entry seating area with sofa and chairs plus heavy duty

beanbags (see photo at left) on the stage would give the

students the comfortable seating they all asked for.

Computer /classroom

furniture

The added computer/classroom allows for larger classes (while the four frog

computer stations in the entry area are fun for individual students as a place

to do research, play educational games, take AR tests, etc.) The computer

tables are light weight and have casters for easy conversion into group work

areas. The height is adjustable to allow

for smaller students as well as

wheelchair access. Laptops

And wireless internet add

to the freedom of design.

Finally, a new prep area and

a conference room will add

much needed work space

and privacy.

Conference

table & chair

Task Chair – Indigo blue

upholstery

.

Lounge sofa & chair: Gaylord Library Furniture

Features fire retardant foam cushions on steel spring support and hardwood frame. Chair (HT5301) $810.00 Sofa (HT303)

$1545.00

Computer/classroom table: Gaylord Library Furniture

Features a wire management system, adjustable height (22”-32”) and casters. (SSPA11164) $549.00

Conference Table and chairs: Gaylord Library Furniture

Conference table (RAE3672-137) features wire management and optional power domes (RDOME40) that hold 4 electrical

outlets. Table $675.00 Power dome $191.00 Chairs $172.00 ea

Task Chairs: Gaylord Library Furniture

Task chairs have padded seats and polyurethane vented backs. Chairs meet CA 117 and surpass ANSI standards. (47-

103A-121) $379.00

Student Tables and chairs: TMC Furniture, Inc.

“Lorca” Table available in round, square & rectangular tops on tubular metal legs and glides. Tops are available in laminate,

wood veneer or custom. 36 round (T36L15) $790.00 30x60 (T3060L15) $927.00

“Lorca” Chair is lightweight and stackable up to 10 high, available in a variety of stain colors and cut-out styles. (HT5301)

$345.00

Computer Carrel: TMC Furniture, Inc.

“Perimeter” carrel has metal legs and guides to match the Lorca series, comes in a variety of designs, may be specified with

power/data and computer access components, available 26” or 29” high.

Bean bag: Highsmith

Meets California code117 for flame resistance, refills available

Chair (W11-59809) $36.59 Refills $17.34

Puppet Theater and puppets: Creativity Institute

The theater is compact and portable – 36”w x 14”d x 52”h open, folds flat to 4” d. The theater includes the set of people

puppets for $212.47 and the animal set can be added for $119.74

Rocking chair: Rocking Chair University – custom made rockers