Tag: academic architecture
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 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.
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.
Recapping 2019: SCHRADERGROUP’s 15th Year
2019 has been a year full of growth, commitment and achievement. Team members of SCHRADERGROUP (SG) feel fortunate for all the opportunities and adventures that we’ve had over the past year. The SG team would like to reflect on 2019 as the decade comes to an end.
The SCHRADERGROUP Team
2019 marks SCHRADERGROUP’s fifteenth anniversary. SG was established on April 15, 2004. In 2019 we celebrated 15 years of sharing our vision of designing for tomorrow’s workers, thinkers, and leaders. As SG continues to grow, we honor our beginnings and those who have helped shape us into what we’ve become today.
SG welcomed seven new employees to the team. This year we welcomed Project Architect, Mark Adamiak, Marketing Associate, Samantha Greim, Senior Designer, Bill Cox, and Interior Designer, Kayla McCoy. Architectural Designers, Tyler Corbley, Christopher Farmer and most recently we welcomed a new public safety market segment leader.
Community Engagement
SCHRADERGROUP celebrated project completions by attending several ribbon-cutting ceremonies:
Martin County’s ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the new 9-1-1 Regional Communication Center.
Council Rock School District’s ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate Wrightstown Elementary School’s new state of the art renovations and additions.
Palmyra Area School District’s Dedication Ceremony for the completion of Forge Road Elementary and Palmyra Area Middle School’s energy-efficient renovations.
Circle of Seasons Charter School Dedication Ceremony to celebrate the school’s new renovations.
SG accomplished goals of exercising our mission outside of the classroom by attending the following events:
The SG team is proud to continue to contribute to an opportunity for Hatboro-Horsham School District (HHSD) students to explore diverse career paths by participating in the “When I Grow Up” K-12 Career Expo 2019.
SG had a fun evening at HHSD’s Hatter’s Hold ‘Em Casino Night to aid in providing programs and learning grants to the HHSD students.
SG’s Project Architect, Jeremy Ross, AIA, taught Springfield High School students through the ACE of Greater Philadelphia Mentoring program.
SG had the opportunity to partner with the Upper Merion Area School District Administration to give doctoral candidates of Saint Joseph University’s Education Doctoral Program a tour of Gulph Elementary School.
The SG team enjoyed connecting with future architects and designers at PSU’s Stuckeman School’s Career Day—an event at which our attendance can always be counted on.
Additionally, we participated in PSU’s Stuckeman School Professional Opportunities Week, CRSD North Hills Elementary School’s Career Day, PSU’s Annual Alumni Reception, AIA/SMPS Marketing Workshop and many more…
Conferences and Events
The SG team attended annual events and exhibited at many conferences to keep up with changing industry trends and news. We participated in:
Delaware Valley Association of School Business Officials (DVASBO) Trade Show held at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, PA.
Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials (PASBO) Annual Conference in Hershey, PA.
National School Boards Association (NSBA) Annual Conference in Philadelphia, PA.Awards and Recognitions
With tremendous support from our clients and the design community, we’re proud to announce awards and recognition that our projects have earned over the past year.
The 2019 Building Design + Construction (BD+C)’s 2019 Giants 300 Report, ranked SCHRADERGROUP:
#50 of the Top 140 K-12 School Sector Architects
#96 of the Top 150 Architecture and Engineering firms.
More than 485 U.S.-based architecture, engineering, and construction firms participated in the 2019 Giants 300 report. Check out the rankings here.
The U.S. Green Building Council has awarded Council Rock School District’s Holland Middle School LEED Gold certification. The project was also awarded an Ace Grant.
SG received an Award at the Annual AIA AAJ Conference in Jersey City in 2018 for the Pennsylvania State Emergency Operations Center project, PEMA. The project was subsequently featured in the AIA’s Justice Facilities Review in 2019.
Holland Middle School received an Outstanding Project Recognition from Learning by Design’s Fall 2019 Issue.
Gulph Elementary School received an Outstanding Design Recognition from American School & University (AS&U)’s 2019 Educational Interiors Showcase August Issue and an Outstanding Design recognition from AS&U Architectural Portfolio 2019.Our projects have been in the news as well!
Fox 43 News reported on the new PEMA Emergency Operations Center Project
[“Exclusive: A behind-the-scenes look at PEMA headquarters”]
Daily Times reported on the New Springfield High School Project
[“New Springfield High School is on the rise”]
WNCT reported on Martin County’s new 911 Center Project
[“Construction on new 911 center in Martin County nears completion”]
The Reporter reported on the Knapp Elementary School Project:
[“North Penn outlines future facility projects”]
[“North Penn: Talks underway with Lansdale on Knapp Elementary project”]
[“Knapp Elementary plans get OK from Lansdale council”]
[“Knapp Elementary plans updated, Jan. 7 public project meeting scheduled]
King of Prussia Courier reported on the Upper Merion Area High School Project
[“Upper Merion supervisors get a look at the latest high school plans”]
Moving Forward
The SG team would like to extend our appreciation to all of our clients, to the many who experience these buildings every day, and to our fantastic employees and their families. We truly hope to continue to provide environments for growth and inspiration for those who work, play and learn within them for generations to come.
SCHRADERGROUP Mentors Springfield High School Students through the ACE Program
SCHRADERGROUP (SG) volunteered to mentor Springfield School District (SSD)’s Springfield High School students as well as students from other school districts through the Architecture, Construction and Engineering (ACE) Mentor Program of Greater Philadelphia. The ACE Mentor Program is an after-school program structured for students to learn about careers in the construction industry directly from professionals in architecture, construction and engineering.
Jeremy Ross, Associate AIA represented SG and led the session by introducing his role as the project architect of SSD’s new Springfield High School. The students were enthusiastic to learn about their school district’s new 25-acre high school campus which is currently under construction. Jeremy presented an overview of the concept, design development and construction process for the new Springfield High School complex. He then answered questions and explained the relationship between architects, engineers and contractors.
SG is appreciative of the ACE program for providing the SSD Springfield High School students with this unique opportunity to see the new Springfield High School project from the architect’s point-of-view.
Learn more about the new Springfield High School project which is being completed in association with Perkins + Will here.
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 Participates in the Penn State Stuckeman School Professional Opportunities Week
SCHRADERGROUP participated in the Stuckeman School of Architecture, Landscape Architecture and Graphic Design’s Professional Opportunities Week (POW) event this past month at the Pennsylvania State University (PSU).
The Stuckeman School provided its students with another great opportunity to network with Professional Alumni at their POW event. SCHRADERGROUP’s Managing Partner, David Schrader, is the Architecture Alumni Group’s Board President and was fortunate to have been able to participate in the event. Each speaker at this event spoke about their experience at PSU, their career path and firm projects. The goal was to provide students with perspectives from various experience levels and varied professional backgrounds. The evening of discussions was extremely well attended and resulted in provocative conversation.
SCHRADERGROUP looks forward to the next opportunity!
Please check back on the POW website, here, for future events!
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.