Category: News
SCHRADERGROUP Partner Published in School Planning & Management
SCHRADERGROUP (SG) founding partner, David L. Schrader, AIA, LEED AP, was recently featured in School Planning & Management, the industry’s leading publication covering facilities, security, technology, and business concerns in K-12 school districts. The publication asked experts who are involved in various education-related fields to discuss happenings in K-12 education and what to expect in the near future. Topics included design and planning of learning spaces, legislation, sustainability and safety and security.
David’s feature, “The Global Challenge: Moving the Learning Environment Beyond the Four Walls,” discusses the global connectivity available to today’s learners, and ways in which designers can embrace technology and reevaluate what the learning environment is. No longer confined to a single location restricted by four walls, David suggests “we can seize a golden opportunity to expand the learning environment far beyond its four walls and deliver the whole world to our kids.”
Look for the feature in January’s printed issue of School Planning & Management or on their website.
In addition to serving as Managing Partner of SG, David also is Chairman of the Board of the Association for Learning Environments (A4LE), a group whose sole mission is improving the places where children learn.
SCHRADERGROUP Welcomes New Senior Project Manager/Educational Facility Planner
SCHRADERGROUP (SG) is pleased to welcome Danielle V. Hoffer, AIA, LEED Green Associate, to the firm as Senior Project Manager and Educational Facility Planner.
Danielle comes to the firm with professional experience gained over 30 years of completing a variety of project types. For over 20 years, Danielle’s work has focused primarily on the planning and design of public K-12 schools, with a goal of creating learning environments that positively affect student achievement. The depth of her experience in educational planning includes master planning, feasibility studies, analysis of demographic studies and enrollment projections, and the development of educational specifications. A strong leader and communicator, Danielle will be intimately involved with educational planning as well as overall project design and management in her new role at SG.
“I am so excited for this opportunity to join SCHRADERGROUP,” says Danielle. “My experience, skills and knowledge align perfectly with the firm, which already has a solid reputation in the K-12 public school market. I look forward to establishing new relationships, supporting our school district clients in making informed decisions that best serve their communities, and continuing to provide quality, functional and inspiring schools for students of all ages.”
Elementary School Project Featured as Outstanding Design in Architectural Portfolio
Brookwood Elementary School, featured previously this year in American School & University Educational Interiors Showcase and Learning by Design, additionally has been selected for publication in American School & University 2016 Architectural Portfolio. The project is featured in the November 2016 edition of the magazine and also online at www.SchoolDesigns.com. An annual competition honoring education design excellence, the Architectural Portfolio spotlights projects representing today’s most effective learning environments.
To determine citation winners and other outstanding designs, this year’s jury decided upon the following criteria: integration of technology, engaging landscapes, regional vernacularism, project-based learning, user-specific designs, sensitivity to context, accessibility, quality, diversity, inclusivity, living/learning communities, experiential learning, cohesive design concept, and environments that are evocative and inspirational.
SCHRADERGROUP Managing Partner Named as Chair of Board of Directors for A4LE
SCHRADERGROUP (SG) is pleased to announce that the Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) has named David L. Schrader, AIA, LEED AP, Chair of its Board of Directors. David, Managing Partner of SG, assumed the role at the recent LearningSCAPES Conference held in Philadelphia, PA.
An active member of A4LE since 2002, David has served as Northeast Region president and has chaired several regional and international committees, contributing to many new association programs. Actively involved with the development and growth of the SchoolsNEXT global competition since 2007, David is committed to inspiring the next generation to build a solid foundation for a better future.
David Schrader has served on the International Board of Directors since 2012. In his new role as chair, he plans to elevate the status of the emerging professional within the Association and plans to work with the Organization to improve the technical platforms upon which all members communicate.
“Members of this association have served as mentors to me in my development. I truly hope that we can continue that strong tradition of mentorship to those new to the organization and to the profession of learning environment planning and design as a whole. Thanks to the fantastic relationships that form between members, I consider many in this organization to be my greatest friends and colleagues!”
SCHRADERGROUP Attends Ribbon Cutting of New Pennsylvania State Emergency Operations Center
SCHRADERGROUP (SG) team members were proud to attend the ribbon cutting of the 145,000 SF State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) recently completed by SG in a joint venture with AECOM. Presenters and ribbon cutters included Lt. Governor Michael Stack; Honorable Curt Topper of the Pennsylvania Department of General Services; Honorable Richard D. Flinn, Jr. Director of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA); Jeffrey Thomas, Executive Deputy Director, PEMA; and the Honorable Timothy Solobay, State Fire Commissioner.
Elementary School Project Receives Additional Accolades in Learning by Design Fall 2016
SCHRADERGROUP (SG) happily received an Outstanding Project award for excellence in educational facility design in the fall 2016 issue of Learning by Design for Brookwood Elementary School, a new facility recognized for its overall plan, architectural design and for having attributes worthy of imitation.
The new school is designed to support two specific grade-grouping structures, K-2 and 3-5, in a “school within a school” configuration. The design places functions shared by both programs, including the Media Center, dining, gymnasium, administration, and art and music instruction, at the center of the building with other academic spaces flanking the shared core. Learning studios, small group instruction areas and large group instruction areas provide spaces for individual, small-, medium- and large-group learning. Spaces traditionally used as vertical transition areas function as additional dynamic, large group instruction spaces in the form of “learning stairs”.
The distinguished jury of architects and end-users for Learning by Design commended SG for our success in designing Brookwood Elementary School after judging the project based on six criteria: Innovation, Community Need, Interior Design, Sustainability, Functional Design and 21stCentury Learning. “Very efficient plan that successfully breaks down the school into two,” and “Good use of learning stairs,” were among jury comments.
To learn more about the project, please visit www.learningbydesign.biz or our website.
Elementary School Project Named Outstanding Design in Educational Interiors Showcase
SCHRADERGROUP is pleased to announce that the new Brookwood Elementary School was selected to appear as an Outstanding Design in the 2016 American School & University Educational Interiors Showcase. It is featured in the August 2016 edition of the magazine and also on the web at www.schooldesigns.com. An annual competition honoring educational interior design excellence, the Educational Interiors Showcase spotlights projects representing some of the most effective learning environments in America.
Brookwood Elementary School was evaluated on criteria that included contribution to learning experience; ease of use; alignment with program and community; timeless aesthetics; provision of a variety of spaces to support all learners; consideration of human and environmental health; and deep, authentic, ongoing community engagement.
For more information about this project, please visit our website.
SCHRADERGROUP Welcomes Two New Team Members
David Johnson, Designer, comes to the firm with a strong history of involvement in educational work. His professional experience includes all stages of projects, from schematic design through to construction documentation and administration. He is adept at facilitating coordination between the architectural group and all involved sub-consultants. Well-versed in BIM technology, Dave also is proficient in all aspects of drafting and modeling. His extensive skills and experience serve as an excellent support for the entire project team.
We are excited to have Raquel and Dave as part of our team and look forward to their contributions!
3750 Reasons Why We Do What We Do
When we get caught up in the mechanics of the day-to-day, we often lose sight of exactly what it is that got us to where we are, and why we are doing what we are doing. If we’re lucky, we get reminders that help us to remember.
As architects for the K-12 market, we can get pretty engulfed by the myriad details that go into designing and building a new school. And multiply the details by three if you are simultaneously designing and constructing three sister schools in one district! So it was with great pleasure that we viewed a video created by Bristol Township School District (BTSD) music teacher, Mr. Joe Marlow, documenting the transition of students coming from nine outdated elementary schools into three brand new 140,400 SF facilities recently completed by SCHRADERGROUP (SG).
Watching the reactions of the students as they become acquainted with their new ‘homes’ was a powerful reminder of the reason why we come to work every day. Or, in the case of BTSD, with three projects each serving 1250 students, the 3750 little reasons.
Thanks to the Bristol Township School District and community for such a rewarding experience. We wish you all the best in your new facilities!
If you have difficulty viewing the video above, please watch the video here.
SCHRADERGROUP Included in Engineering News-Record Mid-Atlantic Top Design Firms 2016
Engineering News-Record Mid-Atlantic Magazine includes SCHRADERGROUP architecture in its list of Top Design Firms 2016. The ENR Mid-Atlantic Top Design Firms list ranks the largest design firms, both publicly and privately held, based on design-specific annual revenue. SG ranked at #72 this year, placed in the category of General Building. We are pleased to have risen in the rankings from our place last year at #76. Our ranking features our largest project to break ground in 2015, the Phoenixvville Early Learning Center and Elementary School.