Category: Academic
SCHRADERGROUP Attends Baltimore City Public Schools’ Cherry Hill Elementary-Middle School Ribbon Cutting
Baltimore City Public School (BCPS)’s Cherry Hill Elementary-Middle School celebrates its project completion with ribbon cutting.
The Cherry Hill Elementary-Middle School was designed by SCHRADERGROUP (SG), documented by SG, GWWO and then built by JRS Architects with support from SG. Cherry Hill Elementary-Middle School is a grades 3-8 school serving the Cherry Hill community of Baltimore. The building is an incredible melding of 21st Century academic design with the original 1930’s Cherry Hill building.
The ribbon cutting was a festive event for the community with attendance by more than 400 parents and future Cherry Hill Elementary-Middle School students. The great pride for this project was reflected in speeches by dignitaries including Governor Larry Hogan and Mayor Catherine Pugh. BCPS Director summed it up best by telling the children of Cherry Hill that “the beautiful learning spaces in this building are the spaces that you deserve.”
SG is proud to have been the design architect of a building like Cherry Hill that will truly become a center of this community.
Learn more about the Cherry Hill Elementary-Middle School project here.
SCHRADERGROUP Receives an Outstanding Design Award in American School + University Magazine
SCHRADERGROUP (SG)’s Phoenixville Area Early Learning Center and Manavon Elementary School project received an Outstanding Design award from American School & University magazine in this Educational Interiors Showcase August issue.
“The nation’s school and university administrators, as well as education architects, turn to American School & University for how-to features, insight, industry exclusive reports and research on the planning, design, construction, retrofit, operations, maintenance, security and management of education facilities. AS&U’s mission is to continue serving as the voice of the industry – not just reporting events, but also helping to shape the rapidly growing and evolving education facilities and business market. AS&U delivers important insight to today’s decision makers.”
The Phoenixville Area Early Learning Center and Manavon Elementary School is located in Phoexniville Area School District in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. The building was opened in 2017 and is a source of pride for the School District.
The new 152,000 SF Early Learning Center and 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.
SG takes great pride in the partnership it has with Phoenixville Area School District to provide such innovative learning environments for the students of the community.
Read more about the PASD school here.
You can read the issue online here.
Council Rock School District takes a tour of their Newly Renovated Holland Middle School
SCHRADERGROUP’s Managing Partner, David Schrader, representation of D’Huy Engineering and Council Rock School District’s Director of Operational Services, Doug Taylor, lead a tour for the Council Rock School District (CRSD) Board members and Administrative Cabinet of the newly renovated Holland Middle School.
Holland Middle School was one of three existing middle schools in the School District that is part of a plan to consolidate the three schools into two middle schools. Holland received renovations and additions while a new middle school was constructed adjacent to the current Newtown Middle School. Newtown Middle School was demolished for other site functions. Both Holland and Newtown Middle Schools are designed to the same educational specifications and will serve as the two middle schools for the district. Holland was a challenging phased project that allowed use of the building for education.
The Holland Middle School project is an incredible transformation of the existing facility into a state of the art learning environment. Classrooms, performance grade auditorium, athletic spaces and music rooms were added. The interior of the facility was transformed into a contemporary “team” or “house” structure. Students will be amazed as they enter their “New” facility this school year.
Holland Middle School is to be ready for occupancy for the start of the 2018 school year.
SCHRADERGROUP (SG) is humbled to have played a part in this amazing project initiated by the School District.
Read more about our Holland Middle School renovation project here.
SCHRADERGROUP’s Bristol Township School District Projects Featured in Sherwin William’s STIR® Magazine
SCHRADERGROUP (SG)’s Bristol Township School District (BTSD) Brookwood, Mill Creek and Keystone Elementary Schools are featured in Sherwin William’s STIR® magazine (special issue 2018.)
STIR magazine is…
“…the resource that explores the connection between color and cutting-edge design. It examines the many facets of color to help you bring a fresh perspective to your work. STIR® is a print magazine and email newsletter for design professionals.”
In the article, SG’s Managing Partner, David Schrader, describes how the finishes in these newly constructed BTSD elementary schools are used to create an environment that is brighter, lighter, exciting and stimulating to the students using them.
The spaces in these massive buildings are broken up using colors and shapes that act as wayfinding tools for the users of the building. All three schools share the same floor plan but each school has a different unique color palette of its own. The hues chosen for the schools is soft-toned to create a calming effect on children.
SG’s goal for these buildings was to create an inviting and beautiful environment that the District and its children are proud of—and the reception of these learning environments has been extremely positive.
Learn more about the Bristol Township School District Elementary Schools here.
You can read this whole magazine issue on the web here.
SCHRADERGROUP Architect attends Hatboro-Horsham High School’s Statistic Fair
As each school year winds down, the Advanced Placement Statistics course at Hatboro-Horsham High School hosts an event in June to evaluate the students final statistics project. SCHRADERGROUP’s Danielle Hoffer, Senior Project Manager for the Architectural firm designing the new Crooked Billet Elementary School for the School District, was invited to participate as a Guest Evaluator.
Over 40 student-teams shared their projects and findings at the fair which is modeled after science fairs, where students share exhibits and take questions from those who attend in a casual environment. The students are given the task of explaining their project quickly and effectively, keeping in mind the audience may have limited statistical knowledge.
At SCHRADERGROUP, we continue to support our communities in our schools—especially where we can help to promote science, technology, engineering and math!
Check out HHSD’s video on their Statistics Fair here.
SCHRADERGROUP Architect Volunteers with Vetri Cooking Lab
SCHRADERGROUP’s Project Architect, Kelly Ryan, AIA, volunteered her time with Vetri Community Partnership (VCP): Vetri Cooking Lab.
Vetri Cooking Lab is an after-school time program that combines cooking, nutrition education and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) core concepts.
This 10-week curriculum-based program engages 4th through 6th–grade students, using recipes to teach important nutrition lessons (like whole vs. processed foods), the importance of breakfast, reading nutrition labels, added sugar, food marketing and more.
Below we asked Kelly why she did the Cooking Lab and what her experience with VCP and the kids she mentored was like.
The kids drew a portrait of Ms. Kelly
SG: How did you find this program?
Kelly: I learned about this program from a neighbor who works for VCP.
SG: Is this your first time volunteering with them?
Kelly: Yes, this was my first semester with VCP, but I plan to continue in the future.
SG: What made you want to do this program? Did you have any programs with mentors or volunteers that inspired you to do this?
Kelly: My architectural thesis centered on creating a network of localized food growers and community education centers to alleviate urban food deserts. At the time of my research, over 2/3 of Americans were overweight or obese and one cause was attributed to limited access to fresh, healthy foods. Programs like Vetri Cooking Lab provide hands on nutrition education and culinary skills to equip children with the knowledge and ability and create healthy habits. I wanted to be a part of VCP’s “Eat. Educate. Empower.” slogan.
SG: What do you think you offered to the kids in the program? Did they offer you anything? (knowledge or experience wise)
Kelly: Outside of teaching them basic kitchen skills, I hope I offered myself as a confident, female role model and an open ear to listen to their daily successes and concerns. It was rewarding to see the kids build their skill sets from class to class, like watching them cut an onion week 1 vs. week 10, and discover the thrill of using an immersion blender. Our Tuesday class was always a Top 10 highlight to my week.
SG: Are there any programs that you are interested in getting involved with in the future?
Kelly: I plan to continue volunteering with Vetri Cooking Lab in the future!
At SCHRADERGROUP, our purpose to give back to the community is our genuine focus in all of our work–inside the office and out.
Read more about VCP and get involved here.
SCHRADERGROUP Principal Speaks to Arcadia University Doctoral Candidates about Sustainable Learning Environments
SCHRADERGROUP’s Principal, David Schrader, spoke on an expert panel in April about the increasing concerns for our environmental footprint and how academic institutions can participate in sustainability for the future through thoughtful building practices.
Included in that panel was Lorna Rosenburg who currently serves as the Green and Healthy Schools Program manager for US EPA Region 3 Mid-Atlantic and Megan Garner who is the Sustainability Development Manager at the School District of Philadelphia. Ms. Megan Garner provided an in-depth presentation on sustainable design practices currently undertaken by the School District of Philadelphia.
Mr. David Schrader provided a lengthy presentation on the benefits of sustainable design practices for educational facilities. The presentation included descriptions of various techniques for integrating sustainable design as well as the concept of the “School as a Teacher Tool.”
The panel’s presentation was well received. After the presentation, there was open discussion and questions from the Doctoral Candidates about the information provided by the panel.
SCHRADERGROUP has applied many of these sustainability design practices to our projects and approach all new projects with sustainability in mind especially to the degree that the stakeholders would want.
Some examples of sustainable initiatives commonly incorporated includes:
- high efficiency HVAC and control systems including central monitoring and automatic control systems
- ground source heat pumps
- solar hot water heater systems
- optimized energy performance
- gray water systems
- rain gardens (aiding with storm water control)
- storm water quantity/quality control
- reduced impervious coverage
- underground infiltration basins
- stormtech and bioswale recharge system combined with detention basins
- native plant landscaping
- high albedo / reflective roof systems for reduction of heat island effect
- operable windows
- roof monitors (allowing for bilateral daylight within classrooms and greatly reducing the need for artificial lighting)
- interior lighting utilizing automatic controls and occupancy sensors
- night sky-friendly lighting for light pollution reduction
- vegetative roof
- building materials with recycled content
- regional materials
- low emitting materials
- low flow, water saving fixtures
- recycled content materials
- certified wood products
- high insulating values for building envelope
- construction activity pollution protection and waste management
- where appropriate, reuse of existing furniture and equipment
- coordination of building energy commissioning
- acoustical analysis and design
Learn more on some of the projects we have applied sustainability design practices to:
- Bristol Township School District, New Elementary Schools
- Council Rock School District, Middle School Additions and Renovations
- Baltimore City Public Schools, Elementary/Middle School Additions and Renovations
- York Suburban School District, Elementary School New Facility
- State College Area School District, Elementary School Additions and Renovations
- State College Area School District, New Elementary School
- Bucks County Community College, County Campus Expansion and Renovations
- School District of Philadelphia, Engineering and Science High School Additions and Renovations
SCHRADERGROUP Shares Virtual Reality Technology with Hatboro-Horsham Students at the “When I Grow Up” 2018 Career Expo
SCHRADERGROUP (SG) Project Architects Danielle V. Hoffer and Devin Bradbury attended the Hatboro-Horsham School District’s first annual “When I Grow Up” 2018 K-12 Career Expo at Hallowell Elementary School. Attended by 50 vendors and professionals from around the region, this career exploration experience offered students and families hands-on activities related to dozens of careers to help them think, discuss and explore new ideas about potential career paths. As the Architects for the new Hatboro-Horsham School District’s Crooked Billet Elementary School, SG shared Virtual Reality (VR) technology, supported by Oculus and Revit 3d modeling, to “walk” the participants through the building design. To experience the design in a virtual spatial context not only provided the students an understanding of architecture using a medium that they were familiar with, but it also opened up a dialog with the students and families considering architecture and/or engineering as a future career.
You can read more about Crooked Billet project and see a rendering of it here.
Check out more about the Career Expo here or watch the video covering the Career Expo by Hatboro-Horsham School District.
SCHRADERGROUP has a featured firm profile in the Summer 2018 issue of Learning by Design!
Learning by Design is a resourceful magazine showcasing outstanding academic design that highlights innovations in learning spaces.
You can check out the issue here and our profile here.
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!