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SCHRADERGROUP is Exhibiting at the NSBA Conference in Philadelphia
SCHRADERGROUP (SG) will be exhibiting at the 2019 NSBA Conference from March 30th through April 1st.
“The NSBA Annual Conference & Exposition is the one national event that brings together education leaders at a time when domestic policies and global trends are combining to shape the future of the students. Join us in Philadelphia for a robust offering of over 250 educational programs, including three inspirational general sessions that will give you new ideas and tools to help drive your district forward.”
The SG team hopes to have the opportunity to meet many of you who will be attending the NSBA conference. We welcome the opportunity to discuss contributions we might make to enhance your communities and to help you develop twenty-first century learning environments.
The conference is located at the Philadelphia Convention Center, 1101 Arch Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. You can find more information about the conference and can register here. Don’t forget to visit SCHRADERGROUP at booth 526.
You can also read more about our K-12 learning environments here.
SCHRADERGROUP’s partnership with Martin County, NC to develop a new 9-1-1 Communication Center Makes Local News
SCHRADERGROUP (SG)’s partnership with Martin County, North Carolina to develop the new 9-1-1 communication center makes the local news on WNCT 9.
This highly anticipated facility was developed by SG to accommodate the Emergency 9-1-1 needs of Martin County, NC as well as backup 9-1-1 services for Bertie and Pasquotank Counties.
The SG team developed a new one-story 5,000 SF solution that provides; front-of-house administrative functions and support in a non-hardened structure accessible to the staff and public, and a back-of-house fully redundant hardened communications center and all of its support functions. The facility operates 24/7 as a primary communication center for Martin County with four positions and occasionally as a back-up with five additional positions for when adjacent counties require backup 9-1-1 services.
Systems in the facility are fully redundant, consistent with state-of-the-art 9-1-1 center standards. The site design provides appropriate setbacks from the main access road and public parking areas to buffer the facility. A secure gated area is also provided for staff parking and access.
SG is honored to have had the opportunity to design and build a new facility for Martin County’s Emergency 9-1-1 Communication Agency. We are eager to be able to provide the space and functionality required to provide for public safety for the citizens of Martin County and its adjacent counties.
You can find more of our public safety projects here.
Newly Renovated Palmyra Area School District Middle School gets a Facelift and Upgraded Energy-Efficiency Systems
Responding to significant enrollment growth over the past ten years, the Palmyra Area School District is proactively approaching and enhancing the student experience. Addressing numerous facility deficiencies at the Middle School, the District recently finished a two-phase, multi-year addition and renovation process. Much of the process was completed using a GESA process (Guaranteed Energy Savings Act) administered through Reynolds Energy Solutions.
Phase one focused on modernizing all of the energy-consuming systems and equipment within the building. Reynolds Energy Solutions provided new mechanical, plumbing and electrical upgrades with SG providing finish and ADA upgrades to the existing building. By replacing decades-old equipment, fixtures, and lights, the Middle School is now poised for operational efficiency in the coming years.
Other upgrades during phase one included architecturally new or upgraded materials to hallways, classrooms, ADA upgrades, roof replacement, window replacements and exterior restoration throughout the entire school.
Phase two addressed the District’s physical/spatial needs by adding twelve classrooms, small-group instruction space, a faculty room, and new toilet rooms. The cafeteria was modernized and expanded to include an outdoor dining area. Several rooms within the existing building were reconfigured to function programmatically with the District’s current and growing needs. Finally, the Administrative suite received an organizational facelift including a new secure entrance portal.
Renovations to the remainder of the existing School also included: New bleachers for the existing gymnasium, floor leveling of the existing band room to meet ADA, conversion of large group instruction classroom into two new classrooms, replacement of all existing exterior doors, new signage throughout the school, elevator upgrades to meet current codes and new secure front entrance vestibule.
SG is proud of our partnership with the Palmyra Area School District and Reynolds Energy Solutions and excited to continue working with them on several other building modernization projects.
Check out our other K-12 projects here.
SCHRADERGROUP Welcomes Our Newest Project Architect!
SCHRADERGROUP (SG) welcomes our newest Project Architect, Mark Adamiak.
Mark joins the SG team with experience specializing in academic and healthcare design. His prior experience consists of all phases of the process from design and documentation through construction administration. Mark’s projects have included academic as well as Healthcare projects. Mark participated as a guest instructor for five semesters teaching architecture to high school level students through Architecture in School (AIS) programs with AIA. He exemplifies the SG goal of continuing this cycle of teaching the next generation about good design.
Mark’s passion and dedication to both architecture and education provides SG with new perspectives and solutions so valuable to our projects and our clientele as well.
Mark holds a Master of Architecture and Planning from the Catholic University of America, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Engineering, with a minor in Architecture from Lafayette College. The SG team looks forward to Mark’s contribution to new learning environments.
Interested in joining the SG team? Check out available opportunities here.
State Emergency Operation Center Makes Local News!
SCHRADERGROUP (SG) was pleased to see the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) in action in this featured report on the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) by local FOX 43 news (you can watch it here.) With winter in full swing in the mid-Atlantic area, storms make State EOC’s like PEMA critical to managing state-wide emergencies.
PEMA is a brand new State Emergency Operation Center, that SG in a joint venture with AECOM Technology Corporation (AECOM), completed to serve as a home for many of the State’s emergency response functions. The new facility provides dedicated emergency services and disaster assistance for the state, with the ability to sustain uninterrupted operations during activations.
The AIA AAJ Justice Facilities Review award winning (2014 and 2018) design for this facility is also a US Green Building Council LEED certified project.
You can find more information about the PEMA project here.
SCHRADERGROUP is Exhibiting at the PASBO 64th Annual Conference in Hershey, Pennsylvania
SCHRADERGROUP (SG) will be exhibiting at the 64th Pennsylvania Association of School Business Official (PASBO) Annual Conference this year in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
PASBO is a statewide organization that focuses on sharing learning experiences and promotes networking amongst school business colleagues and business partners that are members of the association. Every year, PASBO has provided an opportunity to come together at their annual conference to present keynote speakers, provide information workshops and sessions and provide opportunities to network with peers and business partners.
At the Conference, there is an opportunity to meet and speak with SG Partners, David Schrader and Bruce Bachtle, Principals, Harry Pettoni and Tom Forsberg, and Senior Educational Planner, Danielle V. Hoffer. The team looks forward to seeing many new and familiar school business colleagues. As experts in Academic design, we want to hear you and to help you with your educational programming, planning and design to enhance your learning facilities.
Come visit us at our booth (413) to chat about your projects and ideas for your school district’s needs.
You can visit Academic Projects on our website here.
You can learn more about the PASBO Conference here.
SCHRADERGROUP Managing Partner’s Farewell as Chairman of the Association for Learning Environments (A4LE)
David Schrader, Managing Partner of SCHRADERGROUP (SG), closed another chapter with A4LE as his time on the Executive Committee for A4LE came to an end in October of 2018.
SG Managing Partner David Schrader, AIA, LEED AP, A4LE Fellow, is heavily involved in a variety of activities surrounding planning and design for educational facilities. A long-standing member of the Association for Learning Environments (A4LE), formerly Council of Educational Facility Planners International (CEFPI), David most recently served as Chairman of the International Board of Directors for the organization. Former posts include Vice Chair of the International Board of Directors, Chair of the International Membership Committee, Co-Chair of the International School of the Future Design Competition, President of the Northeast Region, and CEFPI Governor for Pennsylvania.
David is the recipient of multiple awards bestowed by the organization and is a regular speaker and organizer for regional and national conferences. He also served as Jury Chair of the SchoolsNEXT Design Competition, an annual program supported by A4LE and over 20 other organizations that draws national attention to the importance of well-planned, healthy, high performance, safe and sustainable schools through a design competition engaging middle school students.
In 2009 through 2011, David was named Planner of the Year for the Northeast Region of the Council of Educational Facility Planners International (CEFPI). He consequently was a finalist for International Planner of the Year in 2010 and 2011. David was awarded the Distinction of A4LE Fellow at the 2017 Annual Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. David has received numerous design accolades and recognition from other organizations as well. Recognized for demonstrating excellence in educational facilities planning, practice and leadership, David is known for involving students and community in consensus-based planning processes, for his commitment to educational programming and design, and for his regional and national CEFPI leadership roles.
David noted that his time on the Executive Committee has been among the most rewarding experiences of his career. During his time, the organization experienced unprecedented growth from 3,500 members to 5,000. He was part of the Executive Committees that renamed and rebranded the organization. He was also part of the team instating the global transition of the organization and continues in that capacity today.
In his parting statement, David expressed his sincere appreciation to his A4LE colleagues for this amazing camaraderie, to his professional colleagues for their support during his tenure and to his family for their love and support.
SCHRADERGROUP Attends and Receives an Award at the Annual AIA AAJ Conference in Jersey City
SCHRADERGROUP was honored to receive an award at the AIA AAJ Awards Luncheon held in Jersey City in October 2018.
The project that SCHRADERGROUP won the award jointly with AECOMD for was the State Emergency Operations Center, Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA). David Schrader of SCHRADERGROUP (SG) along with Steve Loomis and Amanda Chebalo of Aecom were pleased to accept a received a Justice Facilities Review Award at the AIA AAJ Awards ceremony.
The Team is especially honored to have had the opportunity to partner with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on this prestigious project.
You can read more about the PEMA building here.
SCHRADERGROUP Gives Thanks for 2018 and Welcomes the New Year
Time sure flies when you’re having fun!
Everyone at SCHRADERGROUP is grateful for all the opportunities and adventures that we’ve had over the past year. Let’s recap some of those great moments from 2018…
The SCHRADERGROUP Team
Early this year, our Lancaster office moved its location to the downtown area on East King Street, in the middle of all the action in Lancaster city.
We congratulated Eric Weiss and Kelly Ryan for becoming registered Architects in Pennsylvania as well as Jeff Rothermel for becoming a registered Structural Engineer. We welcomed back Paige Geldrich, our previous summer intern, as our newest Architectural Designer. We also recognized five years of dedication to SCHRADERGROUP (SG) from Principals, Harry Pettoni and Tom Forsberg, Architects, Eric Weiss and Kelly Ryan, and Marketing Associate, Rachel Dougherty.
Community Engagement
Senior Project Manager, Danielle V. Hoffer, generously lent her time and experience to Hatboro-Horsham School District by participating in their girls’ STEM talk, Blair Mill Elementary School’s “Tiny House” project, the School District’s Career Fair, the School District’s Statistic Fair and the School District’s Networking Event.
Project Manager and Architect, Dan D’Amico, visited Upper Merion Area School District’s elementary schools to discuss designing spaces for everyone (accessibility) and classrooms for the future.
Project Architect, Kelly Ryan, volunteered her time to help teach students how to cook with the Vetri Cooking Lab program.
Managing Partner, David Schrader, had the opportunity to talk to the students at Penn State’s Blue and White Society sharing his life and professional experiences as an Architect and managing his own firm. He also discussed sustainability with a panel of Doctoral Candidates at Arcadia University and published thoughts on “What We Understand About the Next Generation of Learning Environments” on our SG blog. He also published thoughts on “Changing the Face of Education” in Learning by Design Magazine.
Conferences and Events
The SG team made exciting new connections at various conferences and events we attended this year.
We enjoyed connecting with future architects and designers at PSU’s Stuckeman School’s Career Day—an event at which our attendance can always be counted on.
As always, we loved seeing familiar faces and meeting new people in the academic community at the PASBO, PSBA, A4LE, Maryland ASBO and DVASBO annual conferences.
We also enjoyed meeting and speaking with members of the Communications, Emergency Operations and the Law Enforcement communities during our exhibition and attendance at various Public Safety conferences including IACP, APCO, NSA and NENA.
Awards and Recognition
With tremendous support from our clients, we’re proud to announce a number of awards and recognition our projects have earned over the past year.
Phoenixville Area School District’s new Early Learning Center and Manavon Elementary School received four separate Outstanding Design awards from Learning by Design and American School & University magazines. For more detail, check out Learning by Design’s 2018 spring issue here and 2018 fall issue here; American School & University’s August issue and their November-December issue here.
Bristol Township School District’s Brookwood, Mill Creek, and Keystone Elementary Schools were featured in Sherwin William’s STIR magazine. STIR praised us for our ability to “create an inviting and beautiful environment that the District and its children are proud of.”
The State Emergency Operations Center that SG and AECOM designed and built together for the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency also received an AIA AAJ Justice Facilities award from the American Institute of Architects. Further, South Korean delegates took a tour of the Emergency Operations Center to view its state-of-art technology and facility design.
We received word that a young student created a perspective painting of the Hayshire Elementary School that we previously designed for Central York School District. It’s wonderful to see our designs appreciated by students!
We were delighted to have our firm profile featured in Learning by Design’s summer issue as well as ranking #95 in Engineering News-Record MidAtlantic’s Top Design Firms of 2018 and ranking #38 in the Architect Magazine’s Top 50 Firms in Business.
David Schrader earned Fellowship recognition this year for his service with the Association for Learning Environments (A4LE). He also reflected on his time with A4LE and the organization’s international accomplishments in an article in Learning Spaces Magazine. Though David’s role as Chairman came to a close this past year, he remains an active, contributing member of A4LE and supports the new Chairman and Board Members in their mission to improve the environments in which children learn.
Beginnings and Next Chapters
We began a grand journey for the construction of Hatboro-Horsham School District’s Crooked Billet Elementary School, Springfield Township School District’s newest Early Learning Center with groundbreaking ceremonies as well as Springfield School District’s, in Delaware County, newest High School.
We welcomed the opening of Cherry Hill Elementary/Middle School with a Ribbon cutting with officials from Baltimore City Public Schools. We celebrated the completion of Upper Merion Area School District’s two new Elementary Schools: Caley and Gulph in King of Prussia. We finished construction of Council Rock School District’s newly renovated Holland Middle School. We are also proud to see the completion of the Phelps School Athletic Facility, renovations to Circle of Seasons Charter School, and the renovations to Palmyra Middle School.
We thank you for all the adventures we’ve had during 2018 and are excited for more opportunities in the new year!
From all of us at SCHRADERGROUP