Category: SCHRADERGROUP

Chatham County Unveils New Emergency Operations Center with Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony

SCHRADERGROUP (SG) was honored to attend the ribbon-cutting for Chatham County’s new Emergency Operations Center in Pittsboro, North Carolina. SG served as the architect and structural engineering firm for the new facility. The center combines the county’s Emergency Management and Emergency Communications operations and administration sectors, providing a fully functional space to best serve the community’s needs.

The center is instrumental in providing services to those in need. From the moment the team receives the call, having an efficient, high-tech, and spacious workplace is critical to their commitment to safeguarding the community. Training, technology, and common spaces promote efficiency, productivity, and collaboration within the team. The dedicated members of this center play a vital role in keeping the public safe, and SG was proud to construct the new space.

The emergency staff of Chatham County are well-deserving individuals who help foster public safety, and we are delighted to have been a part of this process from the beginning. This project adds to the preservation and protection of the public, and we are proud to have been involved.

To see more Public Safety and Mission Critical projects we have worked on, please visit our website here.

SCHRADERGROUP’S Recent Growth and Promotions

Over this last year, SCHRADERGROUP (SG) has grown significantly and accomplished remarkable goals. Several of our team members demonstrated consistent dedication to SG and have advanced in their roles. We would like to highlight their accomplishments and want to recognize their contributions to the SG team.

SG’s Harry Pettoni and Tom Forsberg have advanced to Partners of the firm, alongside current Managing Partner, David Schrader. Harry has been a part of SG since 2013 and brings over twenty years of professional architectural and construction experience in the public, private, and education sectors. Tom has also been a part of SG since 2013 and, as a Structural Lead, holds more than three decades of expertise in the design and evaluation of masonry buildings and systems, forensic investigations, diagnostics, and problem resolution.

Devin Bradbury and new SG member Matt Wittemann are now Principals at SG. Devin joined SG in 2015 and brings his comprehensive professional experience, specializing in a variety of markets. Devin oversees all phases of design from schematics and site planning to construction documentation and administration. Devin has also become a leader in the office team management. Matt joined SG this year and has upwards of fifteen years in the architecture, engineering, and construction sectors. His aptitude in client relationship management, sales, marketing, public relations, and strategic planning makes him an excellent addition to our team.

Our current SG Associates team, comprised of Dan D’Amico, Danielle Hoffer, and Regina Jean-Claude, is expanding. Charlotte Stoudt, Eric Weiss, and Thomas Wippenbeck are our newest Associates. Charlotte has been with SG since 2017 and, as the Interior Design Department leader, is an NCIDQ-certified designer with over twenty years of professional experience in numerous sectors. Eric has been with SG since 2013 and has many years of experience working with institutional and residential projects. Last but not least, Thomas has recently joined the SG team as a new hire and brings twenty-six years of experience working with a number of architectural firms, in addition to running his own practice.

Thank you all for your hard work and dedication to SCHRADERGROUP. Here’s to many more successful years!

To learn more about the firm, please visit us here.

SCHRADERGROUP Welcomes Our Newest Marketing Coordinator to the Team!

SCHRADERGROUP (SG) is delighted to introduce the newest addition to our team! Please join us in extending a warm welcome to Lauren Wilke as she joins our SG family!

Lauren Wilke
Marketing and Proposal Coordinator
Florida Gulf Coast University – Bachelor of Arts in English
Villanova University – Master of Arts in English & Communications

Lauren is a driven individual and recently earned her master’s in English at Villanova University with a concentration in marketing communications. She has over six years of experience in the marketing field and considerable hands-on agency experience. Lauren is passionate about language and the way we relate to and communicate with one another on a human level.

At SG, Lauren creates compelling content and derives much of her inspiration from storytelling. Her contributions revolve around proposals, digital content, and communication. Lauren recognizes the way a company tells its story is crucial to its success, so she draws on creative writing for lasting impact. Whether it’s a technical proposal or a celebratory blog post, Lauren captures the tone and spreads the word to further the SG vision.

Lauren is motivated by creativity, a talented team, and bettering her community. These characteristics align with SG’s people-focused mission, and in turn, help produce high-quality results. She admires SG’s projects from their inception to completion, and she respects the positive and sustainable impact SG has on the community.

“Communication and architecture are not so different; they both require basic building blocks that, when combined in a thoughtful way, create something beautiful.” –Lauren

Welcome, Lauren! We are excited to have you on board the SG team. We are eager to support you in your path to success.

Interested in working with us? Visit our Careers page to see what opportunities are available at SG here.

Keith Valley Middle School Recognized as an Outstanding Project in Learning By Design’s Fall 2023 Awards of Excellence Magazine

SCHRADERGROUP (SG) is proud to announce that our ongoing project, Hatboro-Horsham School District’s Keith Valley Middle School, has been recognized as an Outstanding Project in Learning By Design’s Fall 2023 Awards of Excellence magazine.

Learning By Design is a prestigious publication that recognizes outstanding educational design and construction projects. They evaluate facilities based on innovation, community needs, interior design, sustainability, functional design, and next-generation learning. Published three times a year, the magazine showcases top K-12 and higher education projects and architecture firms.

Keith Valley Middle School is a three-story educational building that accommodates students from grades 6 to 8, featuring flexible learning studios, small group instruction areas, and larger learning commons for student gathering and project-based instruction.

The new facility will prioritize flexibility and connectivity within the school and community, fostering hands-on and multimodal learning approaches to inspire and engage students. A central learning resource area connects the educational areas to the shared public spaces, which include the dining commons, auditorium, and library.

You can view the Fall 2023 issue of Learning By Design here. You can find Keith Valley Middle School on page 94!

To learn more about Keith Valley Middle School, please click here.

SCHRADERGROUP Recognized as an EPiC Firm by AIA Pennsylvania for the Second Year!

SCHRADERGROUP Recognized as an EPiC Firm by AIA Pennsylvania for the Second Year!

SCHRADERGROUP (SG) is proud to announce that the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) has recognized our firm for the second year in a row, as we continue to support the development of emerging professionals in 2023.

The AIA Pennsylvania Emerging Professionals Committee (EPiC) was established to improve the network, role, and impact of Emerging Professionals throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The committee distinguished SG for successfully supporting the emerging professionals on our staff and for demonstrating a commitment to the development of Pennsylvania’s emerging professionals.

We would like to thank the Pennsylvania AIA chapter, and we are honored to be included on this list of esteemed firms.

To learn more about joining SCHRADERGROUP click here.

SCHRADERGROUP Attends the DVASBO Four County Business Managers Conference at Sky Top Lodge

School district business managers, representing the four counties of Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery, held their annual conference at the Sky Top Lodge from October 4-6, 2023.

At the DVASBO Four County Conference, SCHRADERGROUP (SG) sponsored one of the evening events and spoke at one of the morning sessions. David Schrader and Danielle Hoffer presented “Life after PlanCon,” which outlined the evolution of the role of the public school architect since the 2016 Pennsylvania Commonwealth moratorium on school construction funding.

The session highlighted the changes in the processes and types of projects districts conducted under the PlanCon process, compared to those initiated since the 2016 moratorium. As a result of reduced school funding, elimination of construction reimbursement by the Commonwealth, and the higher likelihood of being faced with a referendum for major construction projects, SG reviewed a variety of case studies, procurement methodologies, and resources the team has utilized to continue to maintain and upgrade district assets.

The SG team is grateful for this opportunity to share our experiences with our school district colleagues.

To see some of SG’s K-12 Projects, please click here.

SCHRADERGROUP is Seeking an Architectural Project Manager for the Pittsburgh Office

Position: Architectural Project Manager

Company Overview:
SCHRADERGROUP (SG) is a full-service firm offering architectural, structural engineering and interior design services for a wide variety of project types, with specific expertise in the areas of academic and public safety facility design. Founded in 2004 and providing services from offices in Philadelphia, Lancaster, Baltimore and Pittsburgh, SG is recognized both locally and nationally for design that offers the highest degree of service to the user, responds to and respects both the built and natural environment and demonstrates inspired aesthetics.

Job Description:
Architectural Project Manager with ten to fifteen years of experience to work in our Pittsburgh Office– the individual that will fill this role has a broad range of experience in the design and construction of public bid facilities, is able to function in multiple roles, and has a strong willingness and desire to be involved in all aspects of project design and construction. Client and consultant interaction is a key component for the successful candidate. Your day-to-day duties will touch on nearly every aspect of design office operations: project management, oversight of document production, business development, client interaction, and contract administration. You must be knowledgeable, versatile, and willing to participate in the long-term growth, development and success of SCHRADERGROUP.

Requirements:
• Bachelor’s degree in Architecture (preferred)

• 10 years of experience in a field related to the duties listed above.

• Working knowledge of modern production software (REVIT, Word, Excel, Bluebeam, etc.) preferred

• Exceptional communication skills, both oral and written.

• Ability to convey ideas and concepts to those with whom you’ll work.

• Willing to travel. While most of our work is regional, occasional overnight travel may be required.

Benefits:
SG offers a competitive salary and benefit package commensurate with your level of knowledge and experience including health and vision insurance, short- and long-term disability, 401k, and bonus structure.

Contact:
To express interest, please forward a resume to:

Regina Jean-Claude
RJean-Claude@sgarc.com
215 482 7440

SCHRADERGROUP will be at the 2023 PASA PSBA School Leadership Conference

From October 16th-17th, SCHRADERGROUP (SG) will be actively participating in the PASA PSBA School Leadership Conference, which will be held at the Kalahari Resort in Pennsylvania.
SG attendees include Managing Partner David Schrader, Partner Tom Forsberg, Principal Matt Wittemann, Principal Devin Bradbury, Associate Danielle Hoffer, Associate Thomas Wippenbeck, and Associate Charlotte Stoudt.

The Pennsylvania School Boards Association is a non-profit, statewide organization representing public school boards, committed to upholding the highest standards of local community leadership for the public schools throughout the Commonwealth.

Drop by our Booth #719 and say hello! We’re looking forward to meeting you!

To see more related academic SG projects, please visit our website here.

SCHRADERGROUP Exhibiting at the PASBO Facilities, Transportation, & Safety Conference

October 9th, SCHRADERGROUP (SG) will be participating in the PASBO Facilities Transportation Safety Conference at The Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center in State College, PA. We are pleased to announce that representing SG will include SG Partner Harry Pettoni, Associate Thomas Wippenbeck, and Principal Matt Wittemann.

Please come visit us at booth #32! We look forward to interacting and meeting everyone there!

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 see more of SG’s K-12 Projects, please visit our website here.

SCHRADERGROUP Facilitates North Penn High School’s Additions and Renovation Planning Workshop

The North Penn School District (NPSD) held the first of three Community Workshops on July 17, 2023, for the proposed renovations and additions to the North Penn High School. SCHRADERGROUP facilitated the Workshop attended by over 50 individuals including Board members, District administration, staff, parents, students, community members, and Township officials.

Involving the key stakeholders is an integral part of SG’s collaborative design process. What is unique to this particular planning workshop is it is an important step in developing a design for the referendum for the taxpayers of NPSD to approve electoral debt for the project in January 2024.

The design process to date has included virtual and actual building tours of local, regional and national “Next Generation” schools. David Schrader began the Workshop with an overview of the building tours and program of the spaces. Building blocks representing each of the spaces were provided to each of the 6 teams to begin the conversation of room adjacencies and relationships of the building to the site. This is the first step to begin developing concepts that will continue to be refined over the next several months.

SG’s mission is to design educational facilities that precisely meet clients’ needs, with a strong emphasis on collaborative decision-making involving key stakeholders. Their client-driven approach begins with a thorough assessment of existing conditions and relies on a consensus-based planning process, fostering creative and effective solutions. They prioritize inclusive workshops to ensure input and information sharing from all parties, resulting in designs that exceed user expectations.

Please click the photo above to see the entire process of the workshop, with full commentary and transcripts.

“The main takeaway of this workshop was to get some big picture ideas that we can take away and turn into a facility concept to move towards (North Penn High School’s) referendum concept.” – David Schrader

To see more K-12 projects done by SCHRADERGROUP, please visit our website here.