Tag: public school design
Hatboro-Horsham School District’s New Crooked Billet Elementary School Will Soon be Ready for Students
We are excited to announce that one of our new elementary schools is expected to be completed in early October 2020 and ready for students. Hatboro-Horsham School District’s (HHSD) 110,000 SF Crooked Billet Elementary School is the District’s most recent accomplishment in upgrading its aging facilities and is another symbol of rebirth in the community surrounding it. The new K-5 facility replaced the original 1950s elementary school on the same site and will accommodate a larger population of 600 students.
Important to the district and community was the preservation of the history of the site. The Battle of Crooked Billet landmark proudly displayed in front of the school anchors the primary entrance to the building. Adjacent to the main administration entrance, a two-story rotunda serves as an interactive learning space featuring the history of Crooked Billet. The rotunda is centrally located between the curricular areas for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) program including the STEAM classroom, Media Center, TV Studio and Art classroom. This central core of the building also serves as the transitional area between the public spaces such as the gymnasium and cafeteria, and the academic two-story classroom wing.
The classroom wing showcases an innovative academic layout. Four grade level classrooms are clustered together with each pair of classrooms sharing a small group instruction area. The grade level cluster is directly adjacent to a central large group instruction area where the entire grade level can gather. Each cluster is designed with its own unique color providing grade level identity and wayfinding. Student cubbies are located in the corridors to maximize classroom efficiency.
SCHRADERGROUP is grateful for this opportunity to team with HHSD for the design of Crooked Billet Elementary School. This successful collaborative experience has truly been a team effort resulting in a school that will serve the community for generations.
Learn more about Crooked Billet Elementary School here.
SCHRADERGROUP Attends Upper Merion Area School District’s Groundbreaking Ceremony for their New High School Project
SCHRADERGROUP (SG) attended the Groundbreaking Ceremony marking the beginning of the construction process for the Upper Merion Area School District’s new High School project.
Students, teachers, district administrators, elected officials and community members gathered to celebrate this promising new facility that will provide next-generation learning spaces for the students.
This 345,000 SF facility connects to the existing middle school through the athletic facilities creating a full secondary campus. A full competition gymnasium and competition swimming venue will be the connector to the middle school. A true “student commons” is the heart of the facility, designed as an “all-day” area for multiple activities. The students commons is a two-story atrium space with learning resources on the second level enhancing the research-and project-based components mixed with dining and food-based opportunities. After hours, this space supports pre-and post-activities for the athletic and performing arts complexes. The performing arts complex is a complete 650-seat theater with balcony and all supporting spaces. The UMASD students will have tremendous learning opportunities once this facility is complete.
After a community-engaged master planning process and two successful new elementary school projects, SG is honored to continue our partnership with UMASD on this highly anticipated state-of-the-art facility.
To learn more about the UMASD elementary school projects, click here.
To learn more about the UMASD High School project, click 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.
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.
Visit SCHRADERGROUP at the PASA-PSBA School Leadership Conference this Fall!
SCHRADERGROUP will be exhibiting Wednesday, October 16th through Friday, October 18th at the 2019 annual PASA-PSBA School Leadership Conference which will be held at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center.
The School Leadership Conference is the annual Conference for the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators (PASA) and the Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA.) The conference brings school leaders from all over the Commonwealth together to share, inspire, network, inform and equip our educational leaders with opportunities for success.
You can find the SCHRADERGROUP team at booth #411—the team is prepared to discuss dynamic opportunities for your school district!
Learn more about the Conference 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.
Gulph Elementary School Receives Outstanding Design Recognition from American School & University’s 2019 Educational Interiors Showcase August Issue
SCHRADERGROUP (SG)’s Gulph Elementary School project has been recognized as an Outstanding Design by the American School & University (AS&U)’s 2019 Educational Interiors Showcase, August Issue.
“The nation’s school and university administrators, as well as education architects, turn to American School & University for how-to features, insight, industry exclusive reports and research on the planning, design, construction, retrofit, operations, maintenance, security and management of education facilities. AS&U’s mission is to continue serving as the voice of the industry – not just reporting events, but also helping to shape the rapidly growing and evolving education facilities and business market. AS&U delivers important insight to today’s decision makers” (AS&U’s official site).
The recognition highlights Gulph’s new technology center showcasing photos of the learning resource center, STE(A)M maker space, art and music instruction areas, and a “learning stair” intended for large group activities proximate to the classrooms. The classroom wings are structured as groupings of grade-appropriate classrooms with learning support, faculty spaces, and team work areas. Each set of grade clusters is oriented around the two-story media center and STE(A)M Center, connecting through the learning stair, which doubles as a mini presentation space for the building.
SG is pleased to receive recognition again from AS&U.
View the Digital Issue featuring Gulph Elementary here.
Learn more about Gulph Elementary 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 attends Third Annual “Hatters Hold ‘Em” Casino Night to Support Hatboro-Horsham Educational Foundation
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.