Category: SCHRADERGROUP
School District of Springfield Township’s New Enfield K-2 Early Learning Center Opening this Fall
The School District of Springfield Township’s (SDST) Enfield K-2 Early Learning Center opens this Fall with great enthusiasm. The completion of the school is the culmination of years of planning, community input and teamwork to design a building that fosters early learning for district’s youngest students.
The new 105,000 square foot K-2 Early Learning Center (ELC) will serve as a replacement school for the K-1 Primary Center and will pull one grade out of the 2-5 elementary school to provide additional educational space. The reconfigured K-2/3-5 grade structure provided the district with new opportunities to tailor instruction to targeted age groupings.
The educational vision to enhance the learning experience through a student-centered, project-based learning approach to instruction laid the foundation for planning. As a result of a community workshop process, the hierarchy of space design and site planning spawned from the input of the group. The site access points, vehicular and bus circulation and parking, the adjacencies of the public spaces (multipurpose room/gymnasium and cafeteria) to the instructional areas, and how classroom wings of the building embrace the central outdoor learning courtyard (representative of the building ‘hugging’ the children) are all results of the community input received.
The main building entrance adjacent to the administration area anchors the interior street connection which provides access the gymnasium with stage and cafeteria. The street leads to the central core of the building featuring the learning resource center and STE(A)M programs and the educational focal point of the building, the learning stair. The educational areas can be secured to allow the use of the public spaces for community events after school hours.
Educationally, the space design of the new school supports a variety of instructional and learning opportunities. To create a sense of community for this younger age group within the context of the larger school, smaller learning communities were designed for each grade grouping. Each grade level wing branches out from the central core of the building and is supported by a large group instruction area to support collaborative activities for either single or multiple classroom instruction. Every two general classrooms share a small group instruction room facilitating individualized instruction. Classroom instruction and small and large-group spaces support project-based and personalized learning opportunities, differentiated instruction, the integration of technologies and STE[A]M experiences, and social and emotional learning experiences for all students.
Thank you to all that contributed to the design and construction of the new Enfield K-2 Early Learning Center. SCHRADERGROUP is grateful for this opportunity to create unique learning environments that correlate to SDST’s educational vision.
Learn more about the new Enfield K-2 Early Learning Center project here.
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.
Holland Middle School Recognized for Outstanding Project Category in Learning by Design’s Spring 2020 Issue
Learning by Design’s Spring 2020 Issue recognizes Council Rock School District’s Holland Middle School project as an Outstanding Project. The Spring 2020 issue, released on April 1, features 67 recently completed educational facility design and construction projects.
Learning by Design is, “…the premier source for education design and innovation excellence. Published three times each year in April, June and October, this prestigious magazine recognizes the nation’s preeminent architectural firms by publishing outstanding pre-K to 12 and college/university projects.”
The issue shows the transformed exterior and interior indicating, “what can be achieved with a complete addition and renovation to transform a 1970s middle school into a 21st-century learning environment.” The project added approximately 44,000 SF to the current building footprint for a total of 184,000 SF. The existing building was gutted and completely renovated.
The Holland Middle School Project has achieved LEED Gold certification and it received a Pennsylvania ACE (Alternative and Clean Energy) program grant.
View Learning by Design’s Spring 2020 Digital Issue here.
Learn more about CRSD’s Holland Middle School 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.
SCHRADERGROUP Attends PSU’s Stuckeman School Career Day 2020
SCHRADERGROUP attended the Pennsylvania State University (PSU)’s 34th annual Stuckeman School Career Day held on February 7, 2020 during PSU’s Opportunities Week. Stuckeman School Career Day provides students with an opportunity to network and explore potential career fields in Architecture, Landscape Architecture and Graphic Design. 80+ firms were selected to participate, and SCHRADERGROUP is proud to have been one of them.
The SCHRADERGROUP team was represented by managing partner, David Schrader (PSU Class of 1991) and team members, Eric Weiss (PSU Class of 2013) and Paige Geldrich (PSU Class of 2018). The team was honored to have met many bright, dedicated architecture students with promising portfolios, three of which will become SCHRADERGROUP summer interns.
SCHRADERGROUP has a diverse team of talented employees and is grateful for the opportunity to connect with the future graduates of the Penn State Stuckeman School as well as many other great schools of architecture.
Interested in joining the SG team? Check out what opportunities are available at SG for you here.
SCHRADERGROUP Welcomes The New Public Safety Market Segment Leader!
SCHRADERGROUP (SG) Welcomes our new Public Safety Market Segment Leader, Timothy Lisle, AIA.
Mr. Lisle joins the SG team with a history of directing mission-critical practice. His work has included the programming, planning and design of a wide range of public safety facilities for government and corporate clients across the United States. Tim regularly speaks at national conferences and has published multiple columns in mission-critical and law enforcement journals.
Mr. Lisle holds a Bachelor’s degree in both Architecture and Science and is a registered architect in six states. He is an affiliate of the AIA, PSAP Design, NENA, Lower Merion Township Uniform Construction Code Appeals Board and is also a visiting architectural critic at both Drexel University and Temple University.
Mr. Lisle’s expertise, extensive experience and 35 years of practice in this field make him a valuable leader for SG’s public safety design team. Please join us in welcoming Tim Lisle to our Public Safety Leadership.
Interested in joining the SG team? Check out what opportunities are available at SG for you here.
SCHRADERGROUP Opens A New Regional Office!
SCHRADERGROUP (SG) is expanding! The team is proud to announce that we have opened a new office location in Raleigh, North Carolina which benefits both existing and future SG projects. We are thrilled to situate ourselves in a region that we have been committed to.
Since the founding of the firm in 2004, SG remains dedicated to public safety and academic facility design. With existing offices in Philadelphia, Lancaster and Baltimore, the SG team looks forward to continuing our long-standing relationships and welcoming new opportunities in North Carolina.
