South Colonie CSD, Saddlewood Elementary School

Colonie, New York

Creating a shared sense of community among Saddlewood Elementary Schools's K-4 students and staff was the impetus for the new 3,000 S.F. media center.  The design included a dynamic open space plan to promote easy supervision of students yet flexible enough to carry out activities such as small and large group instruction, individual research, listening/viewing and storytelling/reading activities, and computer usage.

To distinguish spaces for these components and accommodate multiple functions necessary to this learning environment, shelving and furniture stations were designed to frame research and instructional areas separate from spaces like the Story Corner.  This design configuration creates a unified research and instructional facility that integrates technology and accommodates a variety of activities and groups simultaneously. 

Since the addition was situated on the North side of the school, special consideration was given to incorporate natural day-lighting without glare or overheating through the design of a curved glass curtain wall.  While this feature offers practicality, it also creates energy and enhances the visual appeal of this space, thus providing a media center that fuels learning, collaboration and independence.