Author: editor
Smart Planning at Work
In July, we posted an entry that focused on empowering school districts through intelligent planning. We touched on our recent commitment to a Pennsylvania school district, Bristol Township School District (BTSD) in Levittown, to complete a district-wide assessment and feasibility study. The study led to some remarkable achievements that perfectly illustrate smart, targeted planning at work.
Identifying the Issues
Collaborating with SCHRADERGROUP (SG) on a District-Wide Feasibility Study that examined conditions at nine elementary schools, three middle schools and a high school, BTSD faced some hard facts about the state of the facilities in the District. Three things became quite clear:
- The District’s current facilities are deteriorating and increased costs will be incurred long-term for each year that maintenance-only upgrades are implemented.
- The District will soon experience an issue with increased enrollment.
- Replacing and strategically renovating the District’s facilities presently will yield future savings that will enable the District to afford 21st century learning environments and additionally will aid in enhancing property values in the District.
The District also wisely realized that time was a factor, and that acting swiftly would allow them to take advantage of state reimbursement opportunities, historically low interest rates, and a diminishing debt service for previously completed projects.
Determining Optimal Solutions
The facility assessments and feasibility study conducted by SG, combined with information gained from an independent demographics analysis, led the District to a conclusive direction for major District-wide capital improvements. After extensive evaluation of multiple options and District cost impacts, it was determined that three new elementary schools would be developed to replace the nine existing, aging elementary structures. What makes this exceptionally noteworthy is that the work could be completed with NO increased tax burden to residents.
As a result of smart planning, the District was able to formulate a strategy that boasted many advantages, a few of which include:
- Replacing aging, inadequate facilities with new facilities offering 21st century learning environments
- Accommodating projected enrollment increases
- Reducing operating costs
Implementing the Plan
When the District elected to move forward, SG was retained to begin work on the design of the three new elementary schools. Following an intensive community-based planning process, design of the three new schools is well underway. SG is pleased and proud to be a part of the endeavor and looks forward to delivering to BTSD cost-effective, energy efficient, 21st century facilities that meet today’s and tomorrow’s needs for students, faculty and the community as a whole.
Prototype design for three sister elementary schools in Bristol Township School District.
SCHRADERGROUP Completing Programming and Planning Study for Bradford County Emergency Operations Center
SCHRADERGROUP (SG) is pleased to be providing public safety programming and planning services for the design of a new County Emergency Operations and Multi-Agency Training Facility for Bradford County. The new facility is intended to serve the various emergency response organizations, local industry, and municipal government in the County/Region. It will include fire, medical, law enforcement and hazardous materials, and potentially be expanded to provide training services for natural gas drilling operations and related services as well as general industry.
Following completion of a needs assessment, a design for a new facility will be developed to house the County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) and the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), as well as a training facility. The facility and proposed site would incorporate various training components to include classroom technology, shooting range, fire, EMS, hazardous material, and technical rescue training, as well as specialized natural gas drilling, pipeline, and typical fire training structures.
SCHRADERGROUP Completes Programming and Planning Study for Lubbock Emergency Communication District
With a specific expertise in public safety facility design, SCHRADERGROUP (SG) frequently performs programming and planning studies for project types that include mission critical and law enforcement facilities. Together with communications systems planning firm Mission Critical Partners, SG recently performed a Programming and Planning Study for Lubbock Emergency Communication District (LECD) in Lubbock, Texas. As part of the project, existing space and usage was evaluated and a thorough programming effort was conducted to determine future space needs. Site analysis and cost estimates were developed for options which included remaining in the current existing facility and expanding to meet all needs, fitting out a different existing facility, and constructing a new facility. An assessment of the best strategic location for the facility also was conducted.
Ultimately, LECD decided to pursue a new construction option and retained SG to complete the project. Presently in schematic design, the new approximately 10,750 SF facility will provide dedicated space for the LECD Backup Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP), training facilities, data center, and administrative offices.
SCHRADERGROUP Opens New Regional Office in Baltimore
SCHRADERGROUP (SG) is pleased to announce the opening of a Baltimore, Maryland, regional office. Offering both architectural and structural engineering design services, SG specializes in feasibility studies, master planning, additions, renovations, and new facility design. Since the founding of the firm in 2004, SG remains dedicated to academic facility design throughout the mid-Atlantic region and public safety facility design throughout the United States. With existing offices in Philadelphia and Lancaster, SG looks forward to the new opportunities and relationships the Baltimore office will bring.
SCHRADERGROUP Opens New Lancaster Regional Office
SCHRADERGROUP (SG) is pleased to announce the opening of a Lancaster branch office. With the opening of the Lancaster office, SG adds structural engineering and forensic investigations to the list of services offered to clients by the firm. Founded in 2004, SG specializes in feasibility studies, master planning, additions, renovations, and new facility design. Dedicated to academic facility design throughout the mid-Atlantic region and public safety facility design throughout the United States, SG looks forward to the opportunity to better serve clients through the addition of the new regional office location, personnel, and expanded services.
SCHRADERGROUP Welcomes New Principal!
SCHRADERGROUP (SG) is pleased to welcome Harry J. Pettoni to the firm as Principal. Harry brings over 21 years of professional architectural and construction experience in the public and private sectors. Throughout his diverse and extensive career, he has focused primarily on strategic planning, marketing and business development, programming, planning, project development and sustainable design.
Harry is dedicated to improving facilities by creating 21st century healthy environments for end users. He is an active member of many organizations including the American Institute of Architects (AIA), US Green Building Council (USGBC), Sustainable Buildings Industry Council (SBIC), the Green Building Association of Central Pennsylvania (GBA-CPA) and the Council of Educational Facility Planners International (CEFPI). He presents at numerous seminars, workshops and forums on various topics throughout Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey.
Harry received his Bachelor of Architecture degree from Syracuse University School of Architecture. In addition, he has an Associate Degree in Applied Sciences in Architectural and Construction Technology from State University of New York.
In his new role at SG, Harry will be responsible for project management and business development.
Integrating Architecture and Structure: A Cross-Discipline Approach
Too often, the role of structural engineering in the architectural design process is reactive. This is an unfortunate reality since these two disciplines are so closely related. So much so that, in the building design realm, one does not exist without the other.
In many instances, planning and design advances beyond the programming stage to the point where an entire facility plan is on paper with little or no input from the Structural Engineer. While this isn’t necessarily beyond the point of no return, the Structural Engineer usually has two choices:
Make It Work – this path often leads to inefficiency, unnecessary complexity, and additional costs.
Change It – while this path may lead to a better design, it can require a significant amount of backtracking and rework.
Of course, design development is an iterative process. However, the better approach is for the Structural Engineer to become immersed in the project from inception. Getting involved at the first stages of programming discussions with Owners and end-users allows the Structural Engineer to be engaged in the conceptual development of the overall plan at a time when their input is highly effective and purposefully influential.
‘At the beginning’ is the best time for the Structural Engineer to provide insight for the big-picture decisions that are part of every project; decisions that have a major impact on form, function, cost, and constructability. Many factors require thoughtful consideration and, if left unattended for too long, can have a negative impact on the process. Waiting until the Owners have bought into the design is not a reasonable or beneficial methodology.
Creative is one of the more powerful and influential words used to define an Architect or the process of Architectural Design. How often are Structural Engineers defined in the same manner? Not very often, I would surmise. But the true answer is driven by their extent and timing of integration into each project. If they’re a late arrival to the process, numerous constraints may already be in place, limiting their creative freedom. With early involvement, their creative potential is much broader and will have a more positive impact on the project as whole.
Yes, the discipline of structural engineering can be rigid, formulaic, and is always constrained by material strengths and the immutable laws of physics. However, there are almost always multiple solutions to every problem. Early involvement ensures that many of these potential solutions remain viable and that a consensus approach to a final solution is made. There is no better time to make the right decisions than during the conceptual sketch-planning stages of development.
The collaborative team mindset between the Architect and Structural Engineer is crucial at the very onset of each new project. Efficient, cost-effective, and highly sustainable buildings are always desirable goals. Achieving these goals requires that the Architect and Structural Engineer work together from day one. Both the Architect and the Structural Engineer are highly trained and skilled participants, each with a different knowledge base that must be integrated for successful results.
Written by Thomas Forsberg, PE, Structural Engineer and Principal at SCHRADERGROUP
SCHRADERGROUP Welcomes New Designer!
SCHRADERGROUP (SG) is pleased to welcome Kelly Ryan to our team as Project Designer. Kelly, a recent graduate of Pennsylvania State University, comes to SG with multiple years of internship experience working primarily with institutional project types. Her experience to date includes completion of design and construction documentation, BIM model development, LEED documentation, feasibility studies, 3D digital modeling, and presentation renderings. In her new role at SG, Kelly will be involved in a number of different projects types including additions, renovations and new facility design for the academic and public safety markets.
Empowering School Districts through Intelligent Planning
At SCHRADERGROUP (SG), we know targeted planning initiatives can lead to the successful resolution of issues that so often beleaguer school districts. Our twenty-five years of innovative planning experience allow us to lead districts through a comprehensive master planning process that includes assessing current conditions, identifying problem areas, and determining feasible options that deliver flexible, cost-efficient and enduring solutions.
For example, we recently helped a Pennsylvania school district to complete a district-wide assessment that led to the planning and design of three new, state-of-the art elementary schools to replace nine ailing elementary buildings. What is remarkable about this achievement is that the new schools will be completely financed within current district spending and will result in a net-zero cost difference to the district tax payer. As a result of intelligent planning, the district is able to achieve a proper distribution of the current student population, accommodate projected enrollment increases, reduce operating costs, and provide three new 21st century learning environments.
A prototype design for a state-of-the-art elementary school. Three new buildings of this caliber will replace nine ailing facilities as a result of smart planning.
Planning efforts are a relatively small investment to make, particularly when considering the potentially powerful impact of the outcome. To remain vital, districts must make decisions that best serve students, faculty, and staff, as well as their communities. Smart planning empowers districts to move forward with purpose and direction, making the very most of the resources available and achieving the most optimal results for the district as a whole.
SCHRADERGROUP Welcomes New Designer!
SCHRADERGROUP (SG) is pleased to welcome Eric Weiss to our team as Project Designer. Eric is a recent graduate of Pennsylvania State University and comes to SG with multiple years of internship experience working primarily with institutional and residential project types. His experience with graphic presentation programs combined with his excellent skills as a photographer serve as valuable assets for helping to visually communicate ideas and concepts to clients. Eric additionally contributes a strong working knowledge of BIM and uses his skills in Revit to improve design solution appropriateness, workflow, and efficiency in projects.
In his new role at SG, Eric will be involved in a number of different projects types – a few of which include additions, renovations and new facility design for the academic and public safety markets.