SCHRADERGROUP Celebrates Expanded and Renovated Office Space

Posted on: January 25, 2016

SCHRADERGROUP (SG) has, since our inception, been located in Manayunk, Pennsylvania – part of a corridor of communities that once served as the industrial base for Philadelphia. The office is located in one of the original Civil War era masonry and heavy timber structures, previously serving an industrial purpose. Recently, the firm had the opportunity to expand into an adjacent space and, along with nearly doubling the size of the office, to complete a renovation of the now-adjoining spaces.

Our new space includes a dramatic entrance lobby with custom-designed reception desk, 2 conference rooms, 3 private offices, open work space accommodating new work stations, loft space serving as a library, multiple break-out spaces, kitchenettes, bathrooms, and a separate workroom for printers and supplies. In addition to altering the layout of the combined spaces, the renovation included the selection of all new surface finishes as well as new furniture. The new space, accommodating 21 staff members, offers a significant improvement over the previous office capacity of 14.

The open work space, flooded with natural light streaming through large windows that run the full length of the space, includes multiple break-out spaces that take advantage of flexible and movable furniture that can be easily configured to meet the varying needs of different group sizes. The reception area is flanked on both sides by large and small conference rooms. The over-sized, sliding glass walls of the conference rooms create a feeling of openness and transparency for our welcoming new entry space.

“We seemed to fall prey to being ‘the cobbler’s children who have no shoes,’” said firm principal and managing partner David Schrader. “Although we are a firm of architects and designers, we were working in a space that was not well-designed; it was too small and not terribly functional. The expansion and renovation really has improved the way the office works. And now it looks like a space that befits a company of designers!”

Coming to work in a newly-expanded and renovated space was a great way to kick off the new year. If you’re ever in “The ‘Yunk,” we hope you’ll stop by to see us!