Category: Projects
Hatboro-Horsham School District’s New Crooked Billet Elementary School Will Soon be Ready for Students
We are excited to announce that one of our new elementary schools is expected to be completed in early October 2020 and ready for students. Hatboro-Horsham School District’s (HHSD) 110,000 SF Crooked Billet Elementary School is the District’s most recent accomplishment in upgrading its aging facilities and is another symbol of rebirth in the community surrounding it. The new K-5 facility replaced the original 1950s elementary school on the same site and will accommodate a larger population of 600 students.
Important to the district and community was the preservation of the history of the site. The Battle of Crooked Billet landmark proudly displayed in front of the school anchors the primary entrance to the building. Adjacent to the main administration entrance, a two-story rotunda serves as an interactive learning space featuring the history of Crooked Billet. The rotunda is centrally located between the curricular areas for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) program including the STEAM classroom, Media Center, TV Studio and Art classroom. This central core of the building also serves as the transitional area between the public spaces such as the gymnasium and cafeteria, and the academic two-story classroom wing.
The classroom wing showcases an innovative academic layout. Four grade level classrooms are clustered together with each pair of classrooms sharing a small group instruction area. The grade level cluster is directly adjacent to a central large group instruction area where the entire grade level can gather. Each cluster is designed with its own unique color providing grade level identity and wayfinding. Student cubbies are located in the corridors to maximize classroom efficiency.
SCHRADERGROUP is grateful for this opportunity to team with HHSD for the design of Crooked Billet Elementary School. This successful collaborative experience has truly been a team effort resulting in a school that will serve the community for generations.
Learn more about Crooked Billet Elementary School here.
SCHRADERGROUP Ranks #96 on ENR Mid-Atlantic’s Top Design Firms 2020 List
SCHRADERGROUP ranks #96 on Engineering News-Record (ENR) Mid-Atlantic’s Top Design Firms list of 2020. This list ranks the largest Mid-Atlantic-based design firms, both publicly and privately held, based on design revenue. SCHRADERGROUP is proud to note that the firm’s ranking moved from #100 in 2019 to #96 for this year.
The SCHRADERGROUP team recognizes that we share this tremendous success with our clients and our partners. The team is humbled by the continued dedication of those same clients to their projects even during these challenging times. We thank our clients and look forward to a bright future filled with creating improved environments for living, learning, working and recreating.
View ENR Mid-Atlantic’s Top Design Firms 2020 List here.
SCHRADERGROUP Attends the Groundbreaking Ceremony for New PennDOT District 6-0 RTMC and Parking Structure Project
SCHRADERGROUP (SG) attended the Groundbreaking Ceremony marking the beginning of construction for the new Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) District 6-0 Regional Traffic Management Center (RTMC) and Parking Structure on August 20, 2020. SG and Heim Construction Company were selected by The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of General Services and PennDOT to Design-Build these new facilities.
Designed to achieve a LEED Silver rating, the RTMC is a two-story, 44,000 SF building adjoining the existing PennDOT Engineering District 6-0 office in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. This larger facility will expand PennDOT’s capabilities and enhance the operations of the existing center.
The Parking Structure project includes demolishing an existing parking garage to make way for the RTMC and building a new three-story, 87,800 SF parking structure accommodating 250 spaces.
This new facility is a key component toward future PennDOT expansion projects such as the, I-76 Corridor Comprehensive Transportation Management Plan and the Active Management project.
Construction of the RTMC will follow the new Parking Structure, with the entire project scheduled for completion in September 2022. SG is equally grateful and excited for this project’s success and will diligently continue to support its journey.
SCHRADERGROUP Attends Upper Merion Area School District’s Groundbreaking Ceremony for their New High School Project
SCHRADERGROUP (SG) attended the Groundbreaking Ceremony marking the beginning of the construction process for the Upper Merion Area School District’s new High School project.
Students, teachers, district administrators, elected officials and community members gathered to celebrate this promising new facility that will provide next-generation learning spaces for the students.
This 345,000 SF facility connects to the existing middle school through the athletic facilities creating a full secondary campus. A full competition gymnasium and competition swimming venue will be the connector to the middle school. A true “student commons” is the heart of the facility, designed as an “all-day” area for multiple activities. The students commons is a two-story atrium space with learning resources on the second level enhancing the research-and project-based components mixed with dining and food-based opportunities. After hours, this space supports pre-and post-activities for the athletic and performing arts complexes. The performing arts complex is a complete 650-seat theater with balcony and all supporting spaces. The UMASD students will have tremendous learning opportunities once this facility is complete.
After a community-engaged master planning process and two successful new elementary school projects, SG is honored to continue our partnership with UMASD on this highly anticipated state-of-the-art facility.
To learn more about the UMASD elementary school projects, click here.
To learn more about the UMASD High School project, click here.
SCHRADERGROUP Aids in the Fight Against COVID-19
Due to COVID-19 causing a dire need for personal protective equipment (PPE), the SCHRADERGROUP (SG) team joined efforts to print 3D face shield visors for local healthcare workers in need. Sets of 3D printed face visors were paired with a laser-cut shield and shipped to Mercy Catholic Medical Center in West Philadelphia on April 15, 2020.
The SG team decided to join Cornell University’s “Operation PPE” effort to provide protective gear for medical professionals. Cornell University started Operation PPE with the intent to use their on-campus digital fabrication facilities to produce temporary personal protection equipment for healthcare workers on the front lines. An open-source 3D print file was made available to produce the visor portion of a protective face shield. Architecture schools and firms around the world have joined the effort to produce this equipment in attempts to slow the curve. To learn more, click here.
SG is appreciative of Cornell University’s accessible solution that allows architecture schools and firms to aid in the fight against COVID-19. The SG team hopes to have made a difference for healthcare workers during this desperate time.
Great Valley School District Community Engages in Workshop to Plan for the Future
The Great Valley School District (GVSD) contracted with SCHRADERGROUP (SG) in 2019 to complete an assessment of the current district facilities (six schools plus the district office, district maintenance, bus garage and athletic stadium). That assessment reviewed current building use and examined associated costs for building improvements. In addition, the District commissioned DecisionInsite to prepare a demographic study and projected enrollments based on housing developments and housing turn-over within the district. By comparing current building capacities to the projected enrollments, the team determined the district’s ability to accommodate the anticipated student population for the next five to ten years. A review of that data was presented to the community in October 2019.
In November, the District and SG facilitated a community workshop where participants were asked to comment on what they considered as the main priorities for planning. Positioning the District to offer spaces to deliver 21st Century project-based curriculum, student transportation/travel time and size of schools were ranked as participants’ top priorities. To begin a discussion regarding possible solutions to address capacity issues, specifically at Great Valley Middle School, a series of options were presented that considered the current grade alignment, possible grade realignment and new construction. Participants talked through the options, posed questions and identified concerns related to each, and highlighted the potential benefits. At the close of the session, participants were asked to express their opinion about the options presented.
At the final workshop meeting in December, two questions were posed for discussion considering various grade configurations specific to school centers and the secondary school campus. The results of the workshop process will be instrumental as the District plans for the next five to ten years. The School Board of Directors will consider the findings of the District-wide Facility Study and Master Plan in early 2020 to identify the next planning steps for the Great Valley School District.
SCHRADERGROUP Celebrates Council Rock School District’s Wrightstown Elementary School
SCHRADERGROUP (SG) attended Council Rock School District (CRSD)’s ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of Wrightstown Elementary School on October 3, 2019. These new state of the art renovations and additions were completed in time for the 2019-2020 school year.
This addition and renovation project includes a renovated administrative suite, a new gymnasium, upgraded cafetorium, five new classrooms, a new connecting corridor, HVAC, Electrical, Plumbing and Fire protection replacement as well as improvements to ceilings, roof, floors, interior/exterior finishes and more. Children walked into a building that was essentially “brand-new” on opening day.
Students, teachers, School Board members, parents, and residents gathered as a community to celebrate the facility’s completed improvements. Students cut the ribbon with excitement. They were thrilled about their upgraded and completely air-conditioned school.
SG is honored to have had the opportunity to support this process and to see the impact the project has made on the Wrightstown community. We are proud to have been part of many building transformations in this community and look forward to sharing future experiences with CRSD!
To learn more about this exciting project, click here.
SCHRADERGROUP will be at the IACP Annual Conference and Expo in Chicago!
The SCHRADERGROUP team will be exhibiting at the IACP Annual Conference and Expo in Chicago this month.
The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) is the world’s largest and most influential professional association for police leaders. IACP is committed to advancing the safety of communities worldwide, with more than 30,000 members in 16- countries. (as stated from the IACP website here.)
Please stop by booth #1413 to discuss how SCHRADERGROUP can help you design dynamic and dependable facilities to advance the safety of your community.
Find out more about the conference here.
Council Rock School District’s Holland Middle School Project Achieves LEED Gold & Ace Grant
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has awarded Council Rock School District’s (CRSD) Holland Middle School project a LEED Gold Certification and an Ace Grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. From the very beginning of the planning process, the intent was to transform the existing 1970s building into a contemporary 21st century learning facility. Through the tremendous effort of the CRSD, SCHRADERGROUP (SG) and consultants, and D’Huy Engineering, this amazing transformation is complete.
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), is one of the most recognizable green building certification programs worldwide. SG assisted D’Huy Engineering in applying for this two-million-dollar ACE grant for sustainable technologies for use in the Holland Middle School design. With that grant secured, the middle school was designed with creative, viable, cost effective solutions with a goal of achieving LEED Gold Certification. Holland Middle School achieving LEED Gold Certification indicates how the new design features add energy efficiency and sustainability to the facility.
Holland Middle School’s sustainable design features include an introduction of copious daylighting throughout the facility, new windows in the new exterior skin of the building, and increased insulation to the entire building envelope. All general-purpose lighting throughout the facility and on the site is LED, for maximum energy savings, and a photovoltaic system back-feeds into the main service to supplement building energy demands.
With the intent to incorporate the needs of the community into the design, the SG team created new adjacency to allow for community access. The site was modified to create separate bus and parent drop off. The “front” of the building, originally facing a side parking lot, was reoriented to face Holland Road by means of a new front entry and connector lobby sequence. A new Performing Arts Complex was also added to supplement the building program.
SG is proud to have had the opportunity to partner with the Council Rock School District, to design a LEED Gold certified learning environment.
To learn more about Holland Middle School’s sustainable facility, click here.
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Officially Opens Martin County’s New Regional 9-1-1 Communication Center
SCHRADERGROUP (SG) celebrated with Martin County and their regional partners; Bertie County and Pasquotank County, at the ribbon-cutting ceremony that initiated the official opening of its new 9-1-1 Regional Communication Center.
The SG team joined County and State officials, First Responders, E9-1-1 staff and the community for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the new 9-1-1 Regional Communication Center. The highly anticipated facility, designed by SG, will now become Martin County’s primary dispatch center. The facility operates 24/7 and is equipped with upgraded technology consistent with state-of-the-art 9-1-1 center standards assuring citizens’ needs are met quickly and efficiently.
Martin County Manager and member of the North Carolina (NC) State 9-1-1 Board (former Vice Chairman), David Bone, states, “This project establishes the highest standard of a cost effective PSAP with state-of-the-art design and technology for small to medium size counties throughout North Carolina,” Bone also indicated that this facility will serve as a model for other NC Counties challenged with providing affordable and modern critical facilities to serve rural communities.
SG is proud to have been part of the team responsible for providing the space necessary to support public safety services to the citizens of Martin County and its adjacent counties. The SG team is appreciative of Martin County and their regional partners for this opportunity and as great people delivering a tremendous service to their Counties.
Learn more about SG’s Public Safety facilities, planning and design services here.