Tag: functional design
Council Rock School District’s Rolling Hills Elementary School Completed with LEED Gold Certification + ACE Grant
SCHRADERGROUP (SG) is excited to announce that Council Rock School District’s (CRSD) Rolling Hills Elementary School additions and renovations project is complete. The 12,426 SF addition and 62,695 SF renovation project transformed the facility to support the next generation of learning. The construction phase of this project persevered through the challenges associated with the pandemic through spring and summer of 2020.
Rolling Hills Elementary School is a 75,121 SF single-story elementary school for grades K-6. The existing building floor plan was completely overhauled through to the concrete roof structure to convert the existing old-style open classroom layout to a progressive and functional configuration with natural daylighting.
The design incorporated energy efficient solutions, including solar panels on the roof, and achieved LEED Gold Certification and an ACE Grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The transformation is further exemplified with an identifiable high-volume main entrance that floods the space with natural light. New building façades were constructed with abundant window openings and a variety of exterior finish materials which serve to fragment the horizontality of the one-story classroom wings.
Apart from the Multi-Purpose Room which remained in its previous location, the majority of the other spaces were reconfigured within the parameters of the original building footprint. Additions for an expanded and secure administration area, classrooms and stage were added to support the design program. The building also received all new exterior and interior walls, new mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, and AV/IT infrastructure systems.
SG is proud of our partnership with the Council Rock School District, D’Huy Engineering, and our many great consultants. We look forward to more projects in the future.
Learn more about Council Rock School District here.
Learn more about Council Rock School District’s Rolling Hills Elementary School project, here.
See previously completed K-12 projects, including other Council Rock School District projects here.
SCHRADERGROUP to Attend PSU’s Stuckeman School Virtual Career Day
SCHRADERGROUP (SG) will be attending the Pennsylvania State University’s Annual Stuckeman School Career Day on March 3, 2021. Managing Partner David Schrader will be joined by fellow Penn State alumni and SG employees, Paige Geldrich and Eric Weiss, at the SCHRADERGROUP Virtual Booth from 11am – 4pm. Come visit and meet the team!
This exciting event encourages student engagement and networking with alumni and professionals across the architecture, landscape architecture and graphic design professions. SG is honored to interact with the Stuckeman School’s high caliber students once again. Although the event is not held in person this year, SG is proud to continuously be a part of this impactful Career Day. We look forward to virtually speaking with and meeting these new thinkers and leaders of tomorrow.
Are you a PSU Stuckeman School student that would like to join the event? Register for free here.
Interested in joining the SG team? Check out what opportunities are available for you here.
Springfield School District’s New Springfield High School Project Approaches Completion
Springfield School District’s new Springfield High School is nearing completion. Constructed on the southeast corner of an existing 25-acre campus, the goal of the new high school is to provide the school district with a complex that will serve the community for the next 50 years.
SCHRADERGROUP (SG), in association with Perkins&Will, provided programming, planning, and design services for the new high school complex anticipated to encompass approximately 195,000 SF. The school will immediately serve over 1,200 students and can be expandable to accommodate approximately 1,450.
Keeping in tune with the SG mission of creating next generation learning environments, the new high school will employ an Academy Model to provide offerings in Art, Business, STE(A)M (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), Humanities and Liberal Arts.
Beyond the high school facility, the project includes the design and construction of new site amenities, including athletic fields, parking, and a stadium complex. The project also includes demolition of the existing high school, District Administration Office Space, and all related structures.
The SG team is pleased to partner with SSD on this highly anticipated educational facility. To learn more about Springfield School District, click here.
This project is being completed in association with Perkins&Will. To learn more about Perkins&Will, click here.
To learn more about the New Springfield High School project, click here.
Quakertown Community School District’s Neidig Elementary School has been Transformed
Quakertown Community School District’s Neidig Elementary School is one of our best examples of how alterations and additions can transform a 1950s era building into a state-of-the-art learning environment. Originally constructed in 1958, the school opened this fall with a new look, increased capacity to accommodate 600 students to support the District’s enrollment, and spaces designed to enhance the educational program.
The existing classroom wing was renovated to serve the primary grade levels with new cabinetry, finishes and toilet room renovations. A two-story classroom wing expansion for the intermediate grade levels features a centralized large group instruction area on each floor level for interactive and collaborative learning. Building circulation is captured for program space with areas provided for small group instruction and a learning stair at the main entrance lobby adjacent to the expanded administration area. The variety of spaces offer opportunities for student research, development and presentation as part of the next generation of learning.
Building updates in the specials wing of the building includes complete interior renovations to the library, art and music classrooms, as well as the addition of a gymnasium with a stage for physical education and school performances. Other renovations include new HVAC, electrical and plumbing systems, updated technology, a new kitchen, new roof and new windows. In addition to the building improvements, site improvements include improved circulation to separate the parent and bus loops, expanded parking and new play areas.
SCHRADERGROUP is proud to have been a part of this building transformation and contributors to Quakertown Community School District’s vision for excellence in education.
To learn more about Quakertown Community School District, click here.
To learn more about QCSD’s Neidig Elementary School, here.
School District of Springfield Township’s New Enfield K-2 Early Learning Center Opening this Fall
The School District of Springfield Township’s (SDST) Enfield K-2 Early Learning Center opens this Fall with great enthusiasm. The completion of the school is the culmination of years of planning, community input and teamwork to design a building that fosters early learning for district’s youngest students.
The new 105,000 square foot K-2 Early Learning Center (ELC) will serve as a replacement school for the K-1 Primary Center and will pull one grade out of the 2-5 elementary school to provide additional educational space. The reconfigured K-2/3-5 grade structure provided the district with new opportunities to tailor instruction to targeted age groupings.
The educational vision to enhance the learning experience through a student-centered, project-based learning approach to instruction laid the foundation for planning. As a result of a community workshop process, the hierarchy of space design and site planning spawned from the input of the group. The site access points, vehicular and bus circulation and parking, the adjacencies of the public spaces (multipurpose room/gymnasium and cafeteria) to the instructional areas, and how classroom wings of the building embrace the central outdoor learning courtyard (representative of the building ‘hugging’ the children) are all results of the community input received.
The main building entrance adjacent to the administration area anchors the interior street connection which provides access the gymnasium with stage and cafeteria. The street leads to the central core of the building featuring the learning resource center and STE(A)M programs and the educational focal point of the building, the learning stair. The educational areas can be secured to allow the use of the public spaces for community events after school hours.
Educationally, the space design of the new school supports a variety of instructional and learning opportunities. To create a sense of community for this younger age group within the context of the larger school, smaller learning communities were designed for each grade grouping. Each grade level wing branches out from the central core of the building and is supported by a large group instruction area to support collaborative activities for either single or multiple classroom instruction. Every two general classrooms share a small group instruction room facilitating individualized instruction. Classroom instruction and small and large-group spaces support project-based and personalized learning opportunities, differentiated instruction, the integration of technologies and STE[A]M experiences, and social and emotional learning experiences for all students.
Thank you to all that contributed to the design and construction of the new Enfield K-2 Early Learning Center. SCHRADERGROUP is grateful for this opportunity to create unique learning environments that correlate to SDST’s educational vision.
Learn more about the new Enfield K-2 Early Learning Center project here.
SCHRADERGROUP Attends the Groundbreaking Ceremony for New PennDOT District 6-0 RTMC and Parking Structure Project
SCHRADERGROUP (SG) attended the Groundbreaking Ceremony marking the beginning of construction for the new Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) District 6-0 Regional Traffic Management Center (RTMC) and Parking Structure on August 20, 2020. SG and Heim Construction Company were selected by The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of General Services and PennDOT to Design-Build these new facilities.
Designed to achieve a LEED Silver rating, the RTMC is a two-story, 44,000 SF building adjoining the existing PennDOT Engineering District 6-0 office in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. This larger facility will expand PennDOT’s capabilities and enhance the operations of the existing center.
The Parking Structure project includes demolishing an existing parking garage to make way for the RTMC and building a new three-story, 87,800 SF parking structure accommodating 250 spaces.
This new facility is a key component toward future PennDOT expansion projects such as the, I-76 Corridor Comprehensive Transportation Management Plan and the Active Management project.
Construction of the RTMC will follow the new Parking Structure, with the entire project scheduled for completion in September 2022. SG is equally grateful and excited for this project’s success and will diligently continue to support its journey.
SCHRADERGROUP Aids in the Fight Against COVID-19
Due to COVID-19 causing a dire need for personal protective equipment (PPE), the SCHRADERGROUP (SG) team joined efforts to print 3D face shield visors for local healthcare workers in need. Sets of 3D printed face visors were paired with a laser-cut shield and shipped to Mercy Catholic Medical Center in West Philadelphia on April 15, 2020.
The SG team decided to join Cornell University’s “Operation PPE” effort to provide protective gear for medical professionals. Cornell University started Operation PPE with the intent to use their on-campus digital fabrication facilities to produce temporary personal protection equipment for healthcare workers on the front lines. An open-source 3D print file was made available to produce the visor portion of a protective face shield. Architecture schools and firms around the world have joined the effort to produce this equipment in attempts to slow the curve. To learn more, click here.
SG is appreciative of Cornell University’s accessible solution that allows architecture schools and firms to aid in the fight against COVID-19. The SG team hopes to have made a difference for healthcare workers during this desperate time.
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!