Savannah’s Airport Food Court gets Fresh New Design

Feb. 3, 2011 - PRLog -- Capturing the feel of historic Savannah in the airport food court might seem like a daunting task, but Schmidt Design Studio used classic lines, rich gold colors, art pieces from the local Savannah College of Art and Design, and interesting patterns on the floor to please travelers.

When the team from Schmidt Design Studio first toured the food court – the restaurant and hospitality design professionals found the airport pit stop to be dated, bland and even a little disjointed. The old seating, outdated floor and lighting and mix-matched counters were certainly not a welcome sight for weary travelers.

“We wanted to bring in continuity,” said Anna Schmidt, CEO and principal interior designer of Schmidt Design Studio. “Even if people were just rushing through, we wanted to remind them of Savannah.  The artwork from the local Savannah College of Art and Design really helped with the finishing touches on that note.”

This quick transformation which opened late last year was a team effort. Schmidt was hired by HMSHost and worked in connection with architecture firm Kippels & Associates.
The first step of the transformation was cleaning up the lines and updating the colors. The makeover started with steady, modern signage. The mix-matched counter faces of Pino Gelato, Pizza Hut and Nathan’s were out and in came cohesive newly-finished counter designs.

The colors were freshened with earth tones of deep gold, natural stone look countertops and tabletops, and white painted moldings to accent the architecture. The old ceiling fans and outdated lighting were removed in favor of smaller, more current recessed fixtures and glass lantern wall sconces.  Travelers might now notice the detail work on first glance, but what will definitely stand out is the floor.  Fresh, light porcelain tiles were selected and interest added with a secondary color pattern mixed throughout.

The most important touch is the artwork. Ten pieces were collected from the Savannah College of Art and Design. The new pieces of artwork uniquely embody the southern feel and include towering moss filled trees and images of the past. Six additional pieces were implemented through a Florida gallery by a talented artist and added wonderful, vibrant landscapes capturing the region.

“Savannah is such a beautiful part of our country, we wanted to include some of those iconic elements into its airport’s main food court,” said Schmidt. “The artwork by Savannah College of Art and Design provided the perfect starting point.”

The food court is located in the main terminal (pre-security atrium).

HMSHost—leader in travel, dinning and shopping—selected Schmidt Design Studio, along with Greensboro architecture firm Kippels & Associates, to create the warm, inviting atmosphere.
      
Schmidt Design Studio has worked with a number of other national restaurants and companies, including Olive Garden, Smokey Bones, Seasons 52, Red Lobster, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Ruby Tuesday and FOX Sports Grill. The firm also does design work for upscale independent restaurants, including the restaurant for NBA star Vince Carter’s Restaurant in Daytona Beach, Fla.

For more on Schmidt Design Studio, visit http://www.schmidtdesignstudio.com.

ABOUT SCHMIDT DESIGN STUDIO (http://www.schmidtdesignstudio.com)
Schmidt Design Studio is a professional interior design firm specializing in restaurant and bar interiors with a secondary emphasis on corporate spaces. Located in Orlando, Fla., and Oklahoma City, Okla., Schmidt Design Studio has worked extensively with nationwide chains, franchises, and upscale independent restaurants throughout the country. Whether Schmidt Design Studio is rebranding an entire chain or updating a look for a single-location vendor, clients receive exceptional service from the initial project meeting to final completion. Founded in 2003 by interior designer Anna Schmidt, Schmidt Design Studio has worked with clients such as Olive Garden, Smokey Bones, Seasons 52, Red Lobster, Ruth's Chris Steak House, Ruby Tuesday, FOX Sports Grill, among others. For more information, visit http://www.schmidtdesignstudio.com.