How to design a better web application

I need your help designing a better web application.

 

I am working with nb6.1 JSF/Persistance/MySql web application.   The user makes a selection from a dropdown list and the table is refreshed with new data from the database. 

 

So far so good but I don't like the way the pages are being refreshed. When the user makes a selection you can actually see the table being rebuild on the screen and everything on the page is reconstructed.

 

I would prefer for smoother page update where the contents of the page not related to the table would stay untouched providing smoother update. 

 

I need your ideas how to improve this application.  Please advice.