Managing Partner, David Schrader: Learning by Design’s 2024 ICON In Educational Design Award Recipient
Learning by Design recently released its inaugural ICON in Education Awards honoring leaders in educational design. Rather than focusing on building projects, this award recognizes people who go “beyond the norm” in their demonstrated leadership and quest to improve educational experiences. SCHRADERGROUP’s Founder and Managing Partner, David Schrader, is one of the 2024 recipients.
The ICON Jury selected five individuals this year, all of whom exceeded their judging criteria for innovative visionaries, demonstrating their dedication to the built environment as a critical educational component. They incite change and continuously inspire new modes of learning. Above all else, the recipients believe in the betterment of mankind through education ensuring that young minds of today develop into leaders of tomorrow.
SCHRADERGROUP’s recently completed Upper Merion Area High School is a clear example of David’s influential work. The project began in earnest more than a decade ago by building relationships and trust with School District personnel, the staff, and administrators directly responsible for the day-to-day education of their students. Years of planning and preparation, working together with these educators, is what ultimately led to the new high school project.
This team envisioned a new facility equipped with the latest technology, an environment built to increase instructional opportunities and foster success. Pushing beyond traditional school configurations, cues from high-tech industry workspaces and contemporary higher-education facilities brought the district’s career-focused vision of secondary education to fruition. Its spaces are multifaceted and lend themselves to variety, creativity, student communication, and an array of collaboration styles.
Critical to the success of any educational design project is fostering the engagement of educators, administrators, the community, and, most importantly, the students throughout the planning and design processes. With David’s leadership, the firm’s output reflects thoughtful and community-centric influences, focused on the students, faculty, and staff who utilize the buildings daily. Designs incorporating a sharp awareness between people and their environment set SCHRADERGROUP apart from “the norm.” We at the firm are honored by David’s recognition and continued commitment to improving educational facility design.