Adaptive Reuse Program
Smith Elementary Creative Business Space
Users
Primary Users
 Business Owners
 Office Staff
Secondary Users
 Business Clientele
Function by Room/Area
Basement
Corridor
 Floor finish to match the 1st and 2nd floor corridors
Bathrooms
 Concrete Floors
 10 stalls (2 Handicap Accessible)
 4 sinks
Room A





Business Office Space
Concrete Floors
Original Doors and woodwork
Keep chalkboards
Hold 6-8 Desks
1|Page
Room B





Business Office Space
Concrete Floors
Original Doors and woodwork
Keep chalkboards
Hold 6-8 Desks
Room C






Business Office Space
Concrete Floors
Original Doors and woodwork
Keep chalkboards
Hold 6-8 Desks
Hold one meeting table for 6
Room D





Business Office Space
Concrete Floors
Original Doors and woodwork
Keep chalkboards
Hold 4-5 Desks
Room K






Business Office Space
Concrete Floors
Original Doors and woodwork
Keep chalkboards
Hold 6-10 Desks
Hold one meeting table for 6
Boiler Room
 House updated mechanics
Supply Closet
 House new elevator
2|Page
Multi-purpose Room
 New concrete floors
 Original wooden floors on the stage and stairs
 Update windows
 Seat 75
 Keep Basketball Hoops
Kitchen
 New concrete floors
 Update kitchen
 Open to allow for a café front
Storage
 Storage for cleaning supplies
First Floor
Office
 Separate office for office manager
 Conference room to house new elevator
 Desk for one secretary
 Small waiting area for 2 people
Learning Resource Center
 Bookshelves
 6-8 computer work stations with printing and copy area
 Conference room for 7-8
 Small seating area for 4-5
Room 4





Business Office Space
Original hardwood floors
Keep chalkboards
Original doors and woodwork
6-8 Desks
3|Page
Room 5





Business Office Space
Original hardwood floors
Keep chalkboards
Original doors and woodwork
6-8 Desks
Room 6





Business Office Space
Original hardwood floors
Keep chalkboards
Original doors and woodwork
6-8 Desks
Room 7





Business Office Space
Hardwood floors to match other rooms
Keep chalkboards
Original doors and woodwork
6-8 Desks
Room 9





Business Office Space
Hardwood floors to match other rooms
Keep chalkboards
Original doors and woodwork
4-5 Desks
Lounge
 Change to 3 private toilet rooms
Second Floor
Office 1
 House new elevator
Office 2
 Second office for assistant building manager
4|Page
Room 21
 Business Office Space
 Original hardwood floors
 Keep chalkboards
 Original doors and woodwork
 4-5 Desks
Room 22





Business Office Space
Original hardwood floors
Keep chalkboards
Original doors and woodwork
4-5 Desks
Room 23





Business Office Space
Original hardwood floors
Keep chalkboards
Original doors and woodwork
4-5 Desks
Room 24





Business Office Space
Original hardwood floors
Keep chalkboards
Original doors and woodwork
4-5 Desks
Room 25





Business Office Space
Original hardwood floors
Keep chalkboards
Original doors and woodwork
4-5 Desks
5|Page
Room 26





Business Office Space
Original hardwood floors
Keep chalkboards
Original doors and woodwork
4-5 Desks
Supply Closet
 Change to 3 private toilet rooms
Adjacency Notes
Basement Floor
 Maintain existing walls and layout as much as possible
First Floor
 Maintain existing walls and layout as much as possible
Second Floor
 Maintain existing walls and layout as much as possible
Stylistic Notes




Keeping original elements such as doors, floors, woodwork and architectural details
Make all other components neutral to enhance the architectural details
Simple, clean and professional
Maintaining the school feeling
Location Notes
Located in Kenmore a suburb in Akron, Ohio Smith Elementary School was built in 1918. Akron is
located just South of Cleveland and along the Ohio-Erie Canal. Formerly known as the Rubber Capital of
the world Akron was the center of the tire industry with many of the main companies keeping their
headquarters here. Kenmore itself is a suburb dating back to 1922. Smith Elementary is named after Fred
E. Smith whom donated the land on which the school was built.
6|Page
Concept Statement
For almost 100 years Smith Elementary School has been an institution of learning and a place of
growth for children across the community of Kenmore, including myself. While its closing marks the end of
an era it also presents a unique opportunity. Through adaptive reuse, Smith Elementary can have a second
life as a creative business space and remain a cornerstone building in the community. The central goal of
maintaining the beautiful original architectural details blends with the challenge of making this a functional
space for businesses to come and flourish in, in the same rooms as hundreds of children have done before.
This idea will set apart this building as more than just an ordinary office building and will continue its legacy
as a place where people come to learn and grow. Reinvigorating and reworking the original details that
already are the base of this building such as the hardwood floors, the arched ceilings and the woodwork,
while adding the modern amenities that are needed by the modern day small business will be the central
focus of this project. Yet again this building will be more than just a building but a place of opportunity to
small businesses.
7|Page