Category: News
SCHRADERGROUP to Speak at PASBO’s 2022 Annual Conference!
We are excited to announce that the SCHRADERGROUP (SG) team will be speaking and exhibiting at this year’s 67th PASBO Annual Conference & Exhibits in Hershey, PA from March 8th to the 11th in the Hershey Lodge. Stop by Booth 410 this year to say hello and meet the team!
SG is thrilled to attend this great event in person after last year’s conference was held virtually. We are even more excited to announce that the SG team will be partnering with previous clients and consultants to bring you a special panel this year: “SCHOOL OF THE FUTURE: The Next Generation of Safety and Security, HVAC and Virus Mitigation.” This panel discussion will be on Wednesday, March 9th from 10:45am – 11:45am. We hope to see you there!
“School districts are continually advancing the level of internal transparency and are including more unique and dynamic learning environments as they seek to adjust to changing learning styles and the increased use of technology. Solutions required to respond to the recent pandemic have only exacerbated the challenges of delivering a higher caliber of education to the learner. In response to these issues, school districts have had to evolve their thinking in terms of; safety, security, HVAC and virus mitigation.
Historic threats to schools have created the need to implement safety and security protocol and systems but now, for the first time in 100 years, we have encountered a health pandemic which became another threat to our students, faculty, staff, and community. These compounded concerns create dynamic needs for school districts. Threat assessments, emergency planning and ultimately implementation of protocols are critical to procedures going forward. But further, those threats have modified the systems in buildings. It is critical that these become an underlying part of our process and systems so that all members of society can enjoy learning and community-based activities without actively feeling those threats.
This panel is intended to discuss and debate these topics and to reveal some of the next generation thinking relative to these topics.”
More information on this special panel, as well as information about attending the conference, can be found here.
The Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials (PASBO) is a statewide association with 3,000 members. They are devoted to providing their supporters with education, training, professional development, and timely access to legislative and policy news. Their membership base covers school professionals working in finance, accounting, operations, facilities, transportation, food service, technology, communications, human resources, purchasing, and safety services. While diverse in areas of specialty, all members share a common goal – to support classroom learning in schools during good and bad economic times through smart business practices. PASBO helps make that goal a reality.
Each year, PASBO provides an opportunity for school business officials to listen to keynote speaker presentations and attend information workshops that provide members with the opportunity to network with their peers. PASBO provides its members with the education, training, and professional development, as well as the timely access to legislative and policy news, needed to support this goal of developing and supporting leaders in school business operations.
Learn more about registering for the PASBO conference here.
School District of Springfield Township’s Enfield K-2 Early Learning Center Recognized as Outstanding Project in American School & University’s Fall Architectural Portfolio
SCHRADERGROUP (SG) is proud to announce that our recent project, the School District of Springfield Township’s Enfield K-2 Early Learning Center, has received an Outstanding Project Award from American School & University for their Fall 2021 Architectural Portfolio.
This is the second recognition Enfield has received from American School & University this year, after the cafeteria was previously awarded an Outstanding Project Award for the Educational Interiors Showcase. SG is excited to have another project featured in this prestigious magazine. We have thoroughly enjoyed working with the School District of Springfield Township (SDST) and are honored to have this wonderful facility featured in this issue.
American School and University (AS&U) is a magazine dedicated to the planning, design, construction, retrofit, operations, maintenance, and management of education facilities. It is intended to showcase the latest trends, technologies and strategies that are driving educational facilities and the market.
AS&U honors educational design projects each year through multiple design competitions. One of these competitions is the Architectural Portfolio, the premier showcase celebrating the best in education design. SG is honored to have this school featured in this showcase once again.
Faced with an aging K-1 primary center and a 2-5 elementary center at capacity, the School District of Springfield Township addressed both issues with the design of a new 750 student K-2 Early Learning Center.
The design establishes a hierarchy of the public and private zones. The main entrance adjacent to the administration area anchors the interior street connection to give public access to the gymnasium/stage and cafeteria for after school community events. The street connection leads to the central core of the building, featuring the learning resource/STE(A)M programs and learning stair. The school’s educational areas can be secured to allow the public areas to be used after school hours.
Each grade level wing radiates from the central STEAM core and is designed to create smaller learning communities. Each grade grouping is by floor level with supporting small and large group instruction areas to support a variety of learning environments. The central large group instruction area for that grade level supports collaborative activities. Every two classrooms share a small group instruction room facilitating individualized instruction.
You can view our entry in the Fall 2021 Architectural Portfolio issue of American School & University here.
Learn more about the Enfield K-2 Early Learning Center here.
SG is proud to have partnered with Springfield Township School District. Learn more about this amazing school district here.
SCHRADERGROUP Attends 35th Annual DVASBO Trade Show
SCHRADERGROUP (SG) recently attended the Delaware Valley Association of School Board Officials (DVASBO)’s 35th Annual Trade Show on Wednesday, November 10 at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, PA.
SG was proud to attend and exhibit at this conference once again. It was great to see so many friendly and familiar faces this year after last year’s trade show was cancelled due to the pandemic. SG was proud to assist in DVASBO’s mission of developing and supporting leaders in school business operations for the counties of Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery.
The Trade Show was attended by Managing Partner David Schrader, Principal Harry Pettoni, and Associate Danielle Hoffer. The day included prize drawings, exhibition space, and breakfast and lunch.
It was great to be at a trade show again and to physically see everyone and talk to people face-to-face. We had a ton of fun connecting with school business officials after the hiatus last year and we look forward to attending again next year!
DVASBO is a regional chapter of the Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials (PASBO). For nearly five decades, DVASBO has been supporting school professionals in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties. The organization currently has over 1,000 members and are devoted to providing members with education, training, professional development, and timely access to legislative and policy news. The SG team would like to thank the DVASBO staff for organizing this trade show. To learn more about DVASBO, click here.
To learn more about SCHRADERGRPOUP’s commitment to educational facilities, click here.
SCHRADERGROUP Managing Partner Speaks at Professional Education Seminar
In late October, Managing Partner David Schrader attended and spoke at Pennsylvania State University’s College of Arts and Architecture’s first Professional Education Seminar in State College, PA. The seminar was organized by the Stuckeman School and was chaired by Shwetanc Bothra, a fifth-year student. David and three other panelists, Linda O’Gwynn, President at Purdy O’Gwynn Architects in Philadelphia, Andrew Phillips, Chair of the School of Design at String Theory Schools in Philadelphia, and Carson Parr, Partner at RLPS Architects of Lancaster, PA, served as panelists.
The seminar, the first of an upcoming series of educational seminars geared towards the different aspects and industries of architecture, was focused on the design of educational facilities and museums, and was titled, “How can Architecture Implement Better Learning?”
To learn more about SCHRADERGROUP’S commitment to design for education, click here.
Be sure to follow SG on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter for updates on all things SCHRADERGROUP!
SCHRADERGROUP Attends PASBO Facilities, Transportation, & Safety Conference & Exhibits
SCHRADERGROUP (SG) recently attended the Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials (PASBO) Facilities, Transportation, & Safety Conference & Exhibits in Lancaster, PA on November 4, 2021. This was the first time this conference was held in Lancaster.
The conference was held at the Lancaster Marriot & Convention Center, which is only a couple blocks away from our Lancaster office on King Street. SG exhibited at the conference in the convention hall and was honored to be a Bronze Sponsor for the event. SG team members Danielle Hoffer, Charlotte Stoudt, and Denis Brennan attended the trade show to connect once again with familiar faces and to meet many more.
This year’s conference dialed the focus down to three key areas important to school business officials: facility management, student transportation, and school safety. School facility management affects teaching and learning, student and staff health, day-to-day building operations, and the long-range fiscal health of the district. Attendees included facilities directors and personnel, school safety personnel, business managers, and superintendents.
The SG team would like to thank the dedicated staff of PASBO for organizing this great event and to all attendees who stopped by our booth to chat and ask questions. We look forward to the annual conference that will be held from March 8-11, 2022 in Hershey, PA. Come find us at Booth 410 to chat about your projects and ideas for your school district’s needs.
PASBO is a Pennsylvania-based, state-wide association with over 3,000 members. They are devoted to providing members with the education, training, professional development and timely access to legislation and policy news needed to run a school district smoothly and successfully. While their membership base varies greatly, the association has a common goal of supporting classroom learning through smart business practices. To learn more about PASBO and the work that they do, click here.
To learn more about SCHRADERGROUP’s work with K-12 schools, click here.
SCHRADERGROUP Welcomes the New Year!
2021 was a great year for SCHRADERGROUP. Our team grew both in number and in professional qualifications, we reconnected with clients and colleagues at conferences and events, our projects were featured in multiple publications, we participated in sponsorships and mentorships, and, most importantly, we inspired our communities with responsive, innovative, and sustainable architecture created through client-driven, collaborative practice.
SCHRADERGROUP would like to thank you all for the support and opportunities that have been afforded to us in 2021. We look forward to our continued relationships and the exciting projects that are planned for 2022.
See below for a recap of some of SG’s most memorable milestones from the past year!
We had yet another exciting year of projects that were either completed or made great progress in 2021.
At the Start of the Year
Additions and renovations to Quakertown Community School District’s Neidig Elementary School completely transformed this elementary school to support project-based learning.
In the Spring
SCHRADERGROUP repurposed four pools and eight libraries at Hazleton Area School District’s K-8 schools to generate additional educational classroom space to accommodate growing enrollments.
Council Rock School District’s newly renovated Rolling Hills Elementary School achieved LEED Gold Certification and received an ACE Grant.
We made progress during spring construction (March, April, May) on a number of projects, including Upper Merion Area School District’s new Upper Merion Area High School, the sitework for Chatham County, North Carolina’s new Emergency Operations Center, the additions and renovations to the School District of Philadelphia’s Anne Frank Elementary School, the additions and renovations to North Penn School District’s Knapp Elementary School, and the construction of PennDOT District 6-0’s new Regional Traffic Management Center, among others.
During the Summer
We celebrated the School District of Springfield Township’s new Early Learning Center’s Ribbon Cutting Ceremony.
We showcased the newly completed Springfield School District’s new High School.
Last summer’s construction progress (part 1, part 2) included updates for the additions and renovations to North Penn School District’s Knapp Elementary School, the demolition and construction of Springfield School District’s Athletic Fields, the construction of PennDOT District 6-0’s new Regional Traffic Management Center, the construction of Upper Merion Area School District’s new Upper Merion Area High School, the additions and renovations to the School District of Philadelphia’s Anne Frank Elementary School and Paul Dunbar School, the construction of the Community College of Philadelphia’s new Career and Advanced Technology Center, the renovations to Bristol Township School District’s Benjamin Franklin Middle School, and the renovations to Council Rock School District’s Hillcrest Elementary School and Sol Feinstone Elementary School.
In the Fall
East Pennsboro Area School District held their ribbon cutting ceremony for their new Administration Center.
SCHRADERGROUP is always committed to becoming fully involved with the communities in which we work and this past year was no different. See below for some of the ways we strived to inspire our communities.
We hosted design workshops for Hatboro-Horsham School District’s new Keith Valley Middle School project and for Great Valley School District’s new 5/6 Grade Center project. SG also hosted a planning workshop for Rose Tree Media School District’s new Elementary School project. It was great to be back in person for our consensus-based planning process for these projects as it is always a great exercise in collaborating with the Community and the School District.
The SCHRADERGROUP team also participated in multiple events that were not project related. Our team’s dedication to mentoring the next generation of designers and professionals include our participation in mentoring programs and Penn State University’s Architectural Alumni Group Seminars.
Although some of our favorite conferences were cancelled or held virtually in 2021, we were happy to see so many of you both virtually and in-person at some of these great annual events. We were excited to have attended the PSU Virtual Career Fair, PASBO’s Virtual Conference, the North Carolina Sheriff’s Association Meeting, A4LE LearningSCAPES Conference in Colorado, Design Philly’s Kick-Off Meeting in Philadelphia at Cherry Street Pier, PASBO’s Facilities and Transportation Safety Conference in Lancaster, PA, and the DVASBO Trade Show in Oaks, PA.
2021 was a year filled with awards and recognitions for SCHRADERGROUP and for some of our projects. A few of the accolades we received included:
SCHRADERGROUP making the Building Design + Construction Magazine’s 2020 Giants 400 report, as well as ranking in Architectural Record’s Top 300 Architecture Firms of 2020.
The School District of Springfield Township’s Enfield K-2 Early Learning Center earned quite a bit of recognition this year, with Learning by Design’s Spring 2021 Issue’s Outstanding Project, American School & University’s 2021 Educational Interiors Showcase’s Outstanding Design, Learning by Design’s Fall 2021 Issue’s Outstanding Project, and American School & University’s 2021 Architectural Portfolio’s Outstanding Project.
Additionally, we celebrated some great milestones for the impressive individuals on our team—their growth is SCHRADERGROUP’s growth, and we couldn’t be more proud of their accomplishments both for themselves and for the firm!
This included welcoming Jillian Kreglow as our newest Architectural Designer and Brianna Smith as our new Office Administrator over the summer and welcoming Hugo Li as our newest Structural Engineer just last month.
Congratulations to our senior Architectural Designers Jeremy Ross and Paige Geldrich, for passing their exams and for becoming registered architects this summer. Congratulations are in order for senior Architectural Designer Chris Farmer as well, who recently passed his WELL AP exam in addition to becoming a registered architect.
We would also like to thank our summer interns, Leah Balderson and Dan Pawluczyk, for their contributions to the firm over the summer and we are excited to see their academic and professional growth in the future!
SG leadership had a great year as well. SG Principal Harry Pettoni recently became the President of A4LE’s Chesapeake Bay/Delaware Valley Chapter. Also, SG Founder and Managing Partner David Schrader was inducted into the College of Fellows for the American Institute of Architects at the Lincoln Center in Washington D.C. in November. Congratulations David and Harry!
And last but not least, we are proud to recognize and celebrate the individuals who devoted so much of their time and expertise directly to the firm, congratulations to Regina Jean-Claude, Danielle V. Hoffer, Dan D’Amico, and Devin Bradbury on becoming SCHRADERGROUP Associates!
The SCHRADERGROUP team remains socially active. Whether we are attending happy hours, work parties, fundraisers, or just simply going out to lunch, the team always has a great time together. But who can forget about golf as the ultimate social activity? It was great to return to the courses in 2021, whether for a charity game, a fundraiser, or just to play with friends and members of the SCHRADERGROUP family.
The team participated in some fantastic events including Council Rock Education Foundation’s 2nd Annual Golf Classic, Springfield Area Educational Foundation’s Annual Golf Tournament, Delaware Valley Association of School Business Officials’ Annual Golf Outing, Montgomery County Intermediate Unit Education Foundation’s 21st Annual Golf Classic, North Penn School District’s Educational Foundation’s 20th Golf Classic, and the SCHRADERGROUP Team’s Inaugural Golf Outing.
Welcoming 2022
We cannot wait for what may come in the new year! While SCHRADERGROUP has a number of exceptional projects in design, we also have many projects that will be approaching completion and we are eagerly anticipating more ribbon cutting ceremonies. We are very happily looking forward to another year of growth for our team members and for the firm as a whole. SCHRADERGROUP anticipates being able to participate in more conferences and attending more fundraisers where we can connect with our clients and collaborators. We will continue to inspire and mentor our younger generations, and to simply continue the wonderful relationships we have built over the years with all of you–our partners, our supporters, our families, and our friends.
We celebrate with all of you the accomplishments of the previous year and the optimism of the new one we are entering.
Cheers and have a safe, happy, and healthy new year.
From all of us at SCHRADERGROUP.
SCHRADERGROUP Attends Design Philadelphia’s Kickoff Party
Members of the SCHRADERGROUP (SG) team recently attended the Kickoff Party for Design Philadelphia on Wednesday, October 6th at Philly’s Cherry Street Pier. The Kickoff Party gave attendees a first live look at the interactive installations and exhibitions that filled the pier throughout the Design Philadelphia Festival that lasted from October 6th through to October 17th.
SG team members Paige Geldrich, Jillian Kreglow, and Brianna Smith attended the Kickoff Party that began the 10-day festival. The festival is produced by the Center of Architecture and Design and highlights Philadelphia as a hub for design excellence. The event supports economic opportunities for local designers and demonstrates to the public the impact design has on our everyday lives.
SG was proud to be a “Design Advocate” for the Kickoff Party, joining others who donated not only to support the Center for Architecture and Design, but to also help bring equity, diversity, and inclusion in design education to the school children of Philadelphia’s public schools.
Design Philadelphia’s mission is to make Philadelphia a hub for design excellence, to support economic opportunities for local designers, and to demonstrate to the public the impact design has on our everyday lives. Learn more about this organization and event, click here.
To learn more about SG and the work that we do supporting academic, public safety, and mission critical facilities in Philadelphia and the surrounding area, click here.
SCHRADERGROUP Announces Newly Registered Architect
SCHRADERGROUP (SG) is pleased to announce that another one of our Designers has successfully passed the Architect Registration Examination (ARE) and is now a Registered Architect in the state of New York.
We would like to congratulate Christopher Farmer, AIA, LEED Green Associate, WELL AP on becoming the latest registered architect at SG. Chris is a graduate of Philadelphia University (now known as Jefferson University) and has made considerable strides at the firm working on a variety of projects in the education and public safety sectors. Chris works in the Philadelphia office.
In addition to the valuable work Chris performs in the office, he also helps with mentoring SG summer interns as well undergraduate students through Jefferson University’s Career Services Department. We welcome his architectural registration as another in a line of upcoming accomplishments for this young architect. Chris had recently passed his WELL AP exam as well.
“We are pleased to continue the tradition of moving such talented individuals through the internship process to become registered architects!” said David Schrader, Managing Partner of SCHRADERGROUP.
Interested in joining the SG team? Check out what opportunities are available for you here.
SCHRADERGROUP Attends North Penn School District Educational Foundation’s 20th Annual Golf Classic
SCHRADERGROUP (SG) recently attended the North Penn School District (NPSD) Educational Foundation’s 20th Annual Golf Classic hosted at the Talamore Country Club in Ambler, PA on Tuesday, October 5. The outing helped raise charitable funds for the foundation while participants enjoyed a day on the course with lunch and beverages.
SG was happy to return and proud to be a Metal-level sponsor for this great event that raises money to provide innovative classroom grants to enhance the educational experience of NPSD students.
The SG team was represented by Eric Weiss and Jeremy Ross. The team was honored to support an organization that’s committed to enriching the education and lives of more than 13,000 students in each of the North Penn School District’s eighteen schools.
As educational planners and architects, SG is committed to providing educational facilities that further enrich the learning experience. The success of these events and the continued work of the foundation provides the opportunity to introduce students to new curriculum and innovations in education that give the buildings we design an exciting purpose.
The SG team would like to thank the dedicated members of the NPSD Educational Foundation for organizing this wonderful event. As an example of this funding in action, the North Penn High School will be the first high school in North America that will provide students with a new spatial computing program that will give students a unique opportunity to learn how to design, develop, and publish Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) applications. To learn more about the North Penn School District Educational Foundation, click here.
To learn more about SCHRADERGROUP’s work with K-12 schools, click here.
