Shook Kelley’s education design group works from the premise that the most obvious solution is not always the best. For the addition of a new media center at Grier Middle School, in Gaston County, NC, it would have been easier to build a standalone facility on the campus’ fringes. Instead, Shook Kelley located the addition in between three classroom buildings, elevating a simple addition to the functional and symbolic heart of the campus. This holistic design process begins with a thorough needs assessment, and results in projects that deliver the most for the budget – while simultaneously meeting the school's educational needs now and in the future.