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SCHRADERGROUP Architect speaks at Upper Merion Area School District Classroom about Accessibility for All
The SCHRADERGROUP (SG) team recognizes that a part of our mission is to inspire and encourage the future generation of students, not just through the facilities we design, but by being a part of their education in the classroom.
Recently, Project Architect, Dan D’Amico, AIA, had the opportunity to visit with the 3rd grade class at Roberts Elementary School in the Upper Merion Area School District (UMASD). SCHRADERGROUP recently designed and currently has in construction two new elementary schools for UMASD, Caley Elementary School and Gulph Elementary School.
Mr. D’Amico assembled a presentation, “Architecture for Everyone” that highlighted the different challenges and design criteria architects encounter in order to make buildings accessible for everyone. He discussed how architecture has evolved over the years to include different standards that help make buildings accessible to different people. As part of this experience, students provided creative observations about ways architects can design buildings to help serve the people that use them.
After the presentation, a few volunteer students were asked to participate in activities that helped to illustrate the different struggles some people face that others take for granted. These activities allowed the students to experience why reach ranges, grab bars and other standards outlined by ADA are important for architects to follow. Afterwards, the 3rd grade students were inspired to “design” their own dream schools that were accessible to all learners.
The SCHRADERGROUP team will continue to contribute to the communities we serve—not only through dynamic design—but also teaching opportunities like these!
Congratulations to SCHRADERGROUP’s Newest Registered Architects and Registered Structural Engineer!
SCHRADERGROUP (SG) Congratulates our newest registered Architects, Eric Weiss and Kelly Ryan, and newly registered Structural Engineer, Jeff Rothermel. We congratulate all three for on passing their exams!
Eric, Kelly and Jeff are all Pennsylvania State University graduates—Eric and Kelly have been with SCHRADERGROUP for five years and this is Jeff’s first year! Eric and Kelly graduated from the Stuckeman School of Architecture and Jeff graduated from the School of Architectural Engineering.
We look forward to their continued contributions to our projects to our clients and to communities that we represent.
SCHRADERGROUP Principal Speaks at Blue and White Society Dinner Event
SCHRADERGROUP Principal, David Schrader, and Wallace Roberts & Todd Architectural Designer, Jared McKnight, were featured speakers at the Pennsylvania State University Blue and White Society Dinner last month. The Blue and White Society is a Pennsylvania State University Alumni Association that provides students with the opportunity to creating lifelong relationships with the alumni and staff through community and University involvement.
It is opportunities like these where SCHRADERGROUP shares their experiences to create lasting impressions that inspire young minds. Life experience is one of the most important resources that can be contributed to and is our legacy to be shared.
Jared McKnight, talked about how to elevate your status as a young architect and what to do to be recognized. Jared’s career has demonstrated commitment to civic leadership having served as the associate director of the AIA Associate Committee as well as the co-chair of the Philadelphia Emerging Architects Committee.
As an alumni of Pennsylvania State University, David Schrader serves as the Vice President on the Architecture Alumni Group Board of Directors. In 2012, he was recognized by Penn State with an AIA Technology in Practice Building Information Model Award for Interdisciplinary Collaborative BIM Studio. Mr. Schrader’s presentation focused on making prudent career choices, using his own as an example.
Mr. Schrader showcased the project types and services provided by SCHRADERGROUP and described his career journey to present day. In his own example, he uses a timeline of milestone choices he made which included:
- Career choice
- Which university to attend
- What firm to work for after school
- Deciding on a graduate program
- Opening his own firm
- Tough business decisions during the recession
- And Current day growth
David then closed with a series of recommendations for the society members. Jared and David’s presentations dovetailed nicely and were very well received by the soon to be graduates.
You can read more about the Blue and White Society here on their website.
SCHRADERGROUP Outstanding Project Award and Article in Learning by Design 2018 Spring Issue
Learning by Design is a resourceful magazine showcasing outstanding academic design that highlights academic innovation.
SCHRADERGROUP (SG) is featured in this Spring’s issue with an Outstanding Project Award, for the Phoenixville Area Early Learning Center and Manavon Elementary School. This issue also contains an article by the firm’s founding partner, David Schrader.
The new 152,000 SF Phoenixville Area Early Learning Center and Manavon Elementary School is designed to support two specific grade structures in a “school within a school” format: K-1 in an Early Learning Center, and 2-5 as an Elementary School. The building design promotes essentially every space in the facility as learning space. In addition to providing specific spaces for individual, small-, medium- and large-group learning, spaces traditionally used as corridors or hallways are designed to function as connectors and additional learning spaces. Learning spaces are divided with folding glass partitions to provide transparency and flexibility.
In Mr. Schrader’s article, Changing the Face of Education, he reflects on the passion and purpose of the Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) and their global mission to enhance “the learning environment for all children.” He also highlights the organization’s optimistic focus on the future for academic planning and design.
You can read more about our Phoenixville Area Early Learning Center and Manavon Elementary School here on its project page and Learning by Design’s award galley here.
2nd Grader Paints Perspective of Hayshire Elementary School
SCHRADERGROUP (SG) completed additions and renovations to the Hayshire Elementary School in 2006 in response to district-wide student enrollment increases. It was one of the early projects that our firm completed. The design of the project focused on updating the exterior design using color, shape and form, and a complete refurbishment of the building interiors and building systems. As part of the updates, the front entry was designed with a dramatic entry sequence.
Hayshire Elementary School’s Building Principal, Barbara Snare, recently sent SG a pleasant surprise—this painting of the entry of the Elementary School! From the words of Principal Barb Snare, “it was striking because of the shapes she saw in the architecture… You probably designed it that way!” And as you can see from the architectural photograph of the building (in the blog header, right image), it was certainly how SG originally saw the building entry. Mrs. Snare was also the building principal during the design process so it was great to hear form her again after so many years!
It is very fulfilling to see that a student saw exactly what SG was trying to convey through the entry sequence design. And not only that, but the fact that she adds the word “LOVE” reflects how she feels about the school, its environment and staff. A true testament to the caring personality of the administration, staff and students inside the building. Mrs. Snare epitomizes the personality of the building and makes every student feel cared for and loved!
This student’s perception of the architecture is excellent. Just another confirmation of why we do what we do at SG and how our projects continue to leave a lasting impression for generations of students—the focus of the buildings we design.
You can read more about Hayshire Elementary School here in its project page.
SCHRADERGROUP Project Architect Helps Kick Off “Classrooms for the Future” Project at Roberts Elementary School in Upper Merion Area School District
The SCHRADERGROUP (SG) team recognizes that the facilities we design can also become tremendous project-based learning experiences for the students that inhabit our facilities!
Recently, Project Architect, Dan D’Amico, AIA, had the opportunity to help kick off an assignment about designing “Classrooms for the Future” for 1st graders at Roberts Elementary School in the Upper Merion Area School District (UMASD). SCHRADERGROUP recently designed and currently has in construction two new elementary schools for UMASD, Caley Elementary School and Gulph Elementary School.
Mr. D’Amico assembled a presentation showing overview of architecture and the role architects play during the design process. He then discussed the differences between classrooms of the 20th century versus learning studios for the future. As part of this experience, students provided creative observations about the colors and shapes used in the next generation of learning studios to help stimulate learning. The students also expressed curiosity about the process of constructing academic facilities.
The 1st grade students were beginning to design a “Classroom of the Future” as part of an overall critical thinking and design project. Mr. D’Amico’s presentation helped kick off the project with real-world experience by showing designs for the new Caley and Gulph elementary schools currently being constructed in Upper Merion. To help introduce the students to their assignment, Dan provided “architect’s tools” to the students. Following this introduction, the children approached their project with excitement!
SG strives to utilize the processes that we advocate through our building designs in order to achieve the goal of enhancing communication, collaboration, creativity and critical thinking for the next generation of learners.
SCHRADERGROUP Founding Principal Reflects on the Association for Learning Environments in Learning Spaces Article
SCHRADERGROUP’s (SG) Managing Partner and Lead Academic Designer and Planner, David L. Schrader, AIA reflects on his time as 2017 Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) in the most recent Learning Spaces journal.
“Learning Spaces is a specialized education design journal that looks at how educational establishments are attempting to improve their environments for learning,” as described on the Imaginative Minds Group/Teaching Times website. Imaginative Minds Group/Teaching Times specializes in publications promoting learning, teaching, and creative and critical thinking internationally.
In David’s article, he muses on the reason why he and many others collaborate to support an organization like A4LE. Ultimately, he believes strongly that everyone in the organization shares the goal of “enhancing the learning environment for all learners”. This vision is shared globally amongst 4,600+ members in A4LE.
Mr. Schrader concludes his article with hope and gratitude for the organization and for the opportunity to serve a community focused on the noble goal of improving the learning environments for all learners. As a closing, David introduces A4LE’s 2018 Chairman of Board, William Stice. Congratulations Bill!
You can read more about the Association of Learning Environments (A4LE) here and the Imaginative Minds/Teaching Times publication here. You can also order a subscription to Learning Spaces here.
SCHRADERGROUP Visits Blair Mill Elementary for Their Grade Level “Tiny House” Project
As part of SCHRADERGROUP’s (SG) mission to do their part to enhance the student’s educational experience, members of the team continue to inspire students through the built environment as well as investing in their educational development through participation in the classroom. Recently, the SG team contributed to Hatboro-Horsham School District, Blair Mill Elementary School’s “Tiny House” grade level project. SG kicked off the program by speaking with students about the architecture profession and about the process of planning for a “Tiny House.”
To help put into context how a building is designed, Danielle V. Hoffer, Senior Project Manager for the new Crooked Billet Elementary School in Hatboro-Horsham School District, used the new school project as an example of the concepts the students must consider when planning and designing their own “Tiny House.” Similar to designing a school building, the students must consider where their “Tiny House” will be built, who they will be building it for and what they will need to include as part of their design to work.
Over the following weeks the students will be reading and writing about “Tiny Houses”, learning about the environmental and social impacts of a “Tiny House” versus a larger home and will then create the design of their own “Tiny House.” Ms. Hoffer indicated that their questions demonstrated their unbridled imagination and creativity at this early age, as well as their enthusiasm for the project. She also expressed how exciting it was to contribute to this great project-based learning experience!
SCHRADERGROUP Attends Stuckeman School Career Day 2018
SCHRADERGROUP (SG) is proud to have participated in the 32nd annual Stuckeman School Career Day at Penn State University on February 9th. SG was represented at the event by managing partner, David Schrader (Penn State Class of 1991), and Architectural Associates, Kelly Ryan and Eric Weiss (both Penn State Class of 2013). SG has a strong group of talented employees, some of whom are graduates of the Penn State Stuckeman School – we were honored to meet so many bright, dedicated architecture students with promising portfolios.
SG also partners with the Stuckeman School for their Intern(partner)Ship Program, helping to place talented Penn State Students in challenging summer internships that will advance their careers. We’re looking forward to seeing a few familiar faces from career day this summer!
North Providence Public Safety Complex Project in Rhode Island
SCHRADERGROUP (SG) is excited for a new public safety complex project in North Providence, Rhode Island.
SG, the Law Enforcement consultant to Robinson Green Beretta (RGB), a local Rhode Island architect, is responsible for providing programming and planning services for a new 67,000 SF public safety building for North Providence. The facility will house fire and police for the city.
RGB is based out of Providence, Rhode Island. They are an architecture, project management, and interior design firm established in 1946. Learn more about the numerous services and markets that RGB offers on their website here.
The two-story building is proposed for a tight urban site in the city of North Providence. It is anticipated for 2018 completed construction.
It has one shared two-story lobby that welcomes the public to the different entities that separately have their own specific program space. Shared spaces include the lobby, communication center, fitness center, and public bathrooms. It is designed with a front of house and back of house support structure, Police cruisers are located on the site behind the secure staff parking—A major concept incorporated into the back of house is the pull through area that allows the Fire apparatus to loop around the back of the site to multiple pull through Fire apparatus bays.
Read more about this Rhode Island project on RGB’s project profile page here and a great article about the project breaking ground on RGB’s news page here.