Tag: 21st century learning

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 team attends this year’s DVASBO Trade Show

SCHRADERGROUP (SG) exhibited at this year’s DVASBO Trade Show which was held at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, PA this past week.

The Delaware Valley Association of School Business Officials (DVASBO) is a regional chapter of the Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials (PASBO). The Regional Association has over 1,000 members. Its mission is to help develop and support school business operation leaders.

SG experienced another successful event with the DVASBO community at the Annual Trade Show and eagerly anticipates the next opportunity.

Read more about DVASBO and keep an eye out for next year’s Trade Show here.

SCHRADERGROUP Attends PSU’s Stuckeman School Alumni Reception in Philadelphia

Several SCHRADERGROUP (SG) team members attended The Pennsylvania State University (PSU) Stuckeman School’s annual reception for Alumni of Architecture, Landscape Architecture and Graphic Design. The intent of this reception is to promote engagement and collaboration between design alumni, department heads and faculty. The event was held on October 11, 2019 at the Penn State Center Philadelphia.

The Stuckeman School prepares undergraduate and graduate level students studying architecture, landscape architecture, and graphic design for academic or professional life. Multiple events are held annually across the state of Pennsylvania for Stuckeman Alumni to attend to network, exchange expertise and reminisce.

Managing Partner, David Schrader, an alumnus of PSU’s Stuckeman School (Class of 1991,) and SG team member, Eric Weiss, an alumnus of PSU’s Stuckeman School (Class of 2013,) represented SG. They enjoyed reconnecting with fellow design alumni, faculty and staff.

Read more recent SG news here.

Holland Middle School Receives Outstanding Project Recognition in Learning by Design Fall 2019 Issue

Council Rock School District (CRSD)’s Holland Middle School renovation project has been featured in Learning by Design’s Fall 2019 Issue, receiving recognition as an Outstanding Project.

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 highlights the Holland Middle School project’s renovation and features images of the transformed exterior and interior. Images display it’s dynamic, sustainable features designed to reflect 21st-century learning styles. The renovation project added approximately 44,000 SF to the current building footprint for a total of 184,000 SF.

The Holland Middle School Project has achieved LEED Gold certification.

Learn more about CRSD’s sustainable facility here.

SCHRADERGROUP Attends the LearningSCAPES 2019 Annual Conference in Anaheim, California

SCHRADERGROUP (SG) attended the annual Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) LearningSCAPES 2019 Conference on October 3-6, at the Hyatt Regency Orange County in Anaheim, California.

The conference offered world-class educational sessions and award-winning speakers supporting best practices to creating efficient educational learning environments. The conference allowed members from around the world to converse about educational visions, connect through experiences and discoveries, and exchange expertise about next generation learning environments and their evolving needs.

Themes explored included; public schools and 21st Century Learning Environments, future-focused facilities, co-creating for future generations and many other topics supporting 21st century educational trends.

Information sessions included presentations such as, “The Application of Environmental Psychology to K-12 School Planning and Design,” “Safe, Secure, and Supportive Schools: Creating learning environments that address the well-being of students and staff” and “Visualization to Improve and Enhance the School Design Experience,” to name a few.

The SG team is appreciative of this opportunity to have collaborated with other industry experts. We are, and have been, a proud sponsor of A4LE’s great annual EXPOS.

Learn about SG’s 21st century learning environments here.

Learn more about LearningSCAPES 2019 here, or the Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) 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.

SCHRADERGROUP at the Educational Leadership Summit 2019

SCHRADERGROUP is exhibiting at the Educational Leadership Summit today at the Kalahari Resorts in the Poconos! Stop by booth 41 to chat with us about your K-12 projects!

You can find out more about the Summit here.

SCHRADERGROUP Welcomes Our Newest Interior Designer!

SCHRADERGROUP (SG) welcomes our new Interior Designer, Kayla McCoy.

Kayla joins the SG team as a recent graduate of Jefferson University where she obtained her Master’s degree in Interior Architecture. During her experience at Jefferson University, she completed an Interior Architecture internship where she renovated interiors of exhibits, museums, community wellness centers, hospitals, homes and more.

She previously taught as an elementary teacher for three years educating first, fifth and Special Education students. Her passion for education has shifted to enhancing the learning environments she once taught in.

Kayla also brings a wealth of knowledge developing sustainable energy solutions for facilities. During her internship she designed interiors for environmental centers, where she utilized Photovoltaic Panels and Rainwater cisterns for her projects. Her environmentally friendly strategies provide SG with insight for projects pursuing LEED Certification standards.

The SG team looks forward to Kayla’s contribution to new learning environments for students.

Interested in joining the SG team? Check out available opportunities here.

SCHRADERGROUP attends Third Annual “Hatters Hold ‘Em” Casino Night to Support Hatboro-Horsham Educational Foundation

SCHRADERGROUP (SG) attended the third annual “Hatters Hold ‘Em” Casino night at the Talamore Country Club, Ambler, Pennsylvania, to support Hatboro-Horsham School District’s Educational Foundation (HHEF).  SG is proud to continue to partner with other community members, local businesses and the Hatboro-Horsham School District (HHSD) to support the foundation’s mission to provide funding for the “inspiring programs and innovative learning grants to enhance the educational experience for all Hatboro-Horsham students.”

The evening consisted of table games, silent auctions, live music and a special guest appearance from the Sportscaster of the Philadelphia Eagles, Merrill Reese.

Accompanied by Dr. Curtis Griffin, HHSD Superintendent of Schools and his wife, and the organizer of the HHEF Girl’s STEAM program and her husband, SG’s Senior Project Manager and Educational Planner, Danielle V. Hoffer and her husband enjoyed an evening with friends and supporters of the Hatboro-Horsham School District.

As educational planners and architects, SG is committed to providing educational facilities that further enrich the learning experience. Currently under construction, the new Crooked Billet Elementary School was designed to provide a variety learning environments, both in and outside of the classroom, to support the learning needs of every student. The success of this event and the continued work of the foundation provides the opportunity to introduce students to new curriculum and innovations in education that give the buildings we design an exciting purpose.

The SG team would like to extend our sincere thanks to the dedicated members of the Educational Foundation’s Casino Night committee for organizing this eventful evening for a remarkable cause.

To read more about SG’s involvement within Hatboro-Horsham School District, click here.

 

 

See You at the Maryland-DC ASBO Spring Conference in Ocean City, Maryland!

SCHRADERGROUP (SG) is excited to exhibit at the 2019 Spring MD-DC ASBO Conference once again!

The Association of School Business Officials of Maryland and the District of Columbia (MD-DC ASBO) is an organization that “serves school business professionals by promoting educational excellence through improved business practices; providing networking opportunities; identifying and sharing solutions to everyday problems; offering professional expertise in major business areas; and compiling and sharing research information and best practices.”

You can find SCHRADERGROUP at booth 806 from May 20th through the 21st. Come visit to discuss how SG can help your District create dynamic and functional learning environments to benefit your community for generations.

You can register to attend the MD-DC ASBO Spring Conference here.

Or check out some of our Academic experience here.