Tag: Public School
Newly Renovated Palmyra Area School District Middle School gets a Facelift and Upgraded Energy-Efficiency Systems
Responding to significant enrollment growth over the past ten years, the Palmyra Area School District is proactively approaching and enhancing the student experience. Addressing numerous facility deficiencies at the Middle School, the District recently finished a two-phase, multi-year addition and renovation process. Much of the process was completed using a GESA process (Guaranteed Energy Savings Act) administered through Reynolds Energy Solutions.
Phase one focused on modernizing all of the energy-consuming systems and equipment within the building. Reynolds Energy Solutions provided new mechanical, plumbing and electrical upgrades with SG providing finish and ADA upgrades to the existing building. By replacing decades-old equipment, fixtures, and lights, the Middle School is now poised for operational efficiency in the coming years.
Other upgrades during phase one included architecturally new or upgraded materials to hallways, classrooms, ADA upgrades, roof replacement, window replacements and exterior restoration throughout the entire school.
Phase two addressed the District’s physical/spatial needs by adding twelve classrooms, small-group instruction space, a faculty room, and new toilet rooms. The cafeteria was modernized and expanded to include an outdoor dining area. Several rooms within the existing building were reconfigured to function programmatically with the District’s current and growing needs. Finally, the Administrative suite received an organizational facelift including a new secure entrance portal.
Renovations to the remainder of the existing School also included: New bleachers for the existing gymnasium, floor leveling of the existing band room to meet ADA, conversion of large group instruction classroom into two new classrooms, replacement of all existing exterior doors, new signage throughout the school, elevator upgrades to meet current codes and new secure front entrance vestibule.
SG is proud of our partnership with the Palmyra Area School District and Reynolds Energy Solutions and excited to continue working with them on several other building modernization projects.
Check out our other K-12 projects here.
SCHRADERGROUP is Exhibiting at the PASBO 64th Annual Conference in Hershey, Pennsylvania
SCHRADERGROUP (SG) will be exhibiting at the 64th Pennsylvania Association of School Business Official (PASBO) Annual Conference this year in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
PASBO is a statewide organization that focuses on sharing learning experiences and promotes networking amongst school business colleagues and business partners that are members of the association. Every year, PASBO has provided an opportunity to come together at their annual conference to present keynote speakers, provide information workshops and sessions and provide opportunities to network with peers and business partners.
At the Conference, there is an opportunity to meet and speak with SG Partners, David Schrader and Bruce Bachtle, Principals, Harry Pettoni and Tom Forsberg, and Senior Educational Planner, Danielle V. Hoffer. The team looks forward to seeing many new and familiar school business colleagues. As experts in Academic design, we want to hear you and to help you with your educational programming, planning and design to enhance your learning facilities.
Come visit us at our booth (413) to chat about your projects and ideas for your school district’s needs.
You can visit Academic Projects on our website here.
You can learn more about the PASBO Conference here.
School District of Springfield Township Marks the Beginning of Their New Early Learning Center Construction with a Groundbreaking Ceremony
SCHRADERGROUP attended School District of Springfield Township’s groundbreaking ceremony for the new K-2 Early Learning Center in Erdenheim, Pennsylvania.
More than 200 people from the community joined the School District to celebrate the groundbreaking for the new school. Big smiles radiated from all as Board Members, Project Team Members, Parents and future students dug into the site with their hard hats on. Dr. Nancy Hacker, Superintendent of schools, thanked the community and those who have worked diligently on the new school for their efforts. She, fellow Board Members and local representatives expressed appreciation for the teamwork required to get to this point.
SCHRADERGROUP is equally grateful and excited for this project’s success and will diligently continue to support its journey.
Check out our project page on this highly anticipated project here.
SCHRADERGROUP participates in an exciting Groundbreaking Ceremony for the New Crooked Billet Elementary School in the Hatboro-Horsham School District
SCHRADERGROUP is excited to have attended the Hatboro-Horsham School District’s Groundbreaking Ceremony for the District’s New Crooked Billet Elementary School.
Marking the beginning of the construction process for the new school, the School District and Community are excited to begin the journey to welcome students to the facility in 2020. The Crooked Billet Elementary School has a special place in the heart of its local community, being a place of history and a home for many.
The proposed facility is exciting in several ways. The Crooked Billet monument and the history rotunda will commemorate the Revolutionary War event that the school is named after. Students will enter the building by passing the monument and then will be immersed in history in the central rotunda. Once in the learning environment clusters, students will be greeted by teachers in 21st century learning environments consisting of team project areas surrounded by classroom and small group spaces. This facility is truly revolutionary in a multitude of ways!
The SG team is pleased to partner with the Hatboro-Horsham School District and the community on this highly anticipated educational facility.
You can watch HHSD’s Groundbreaking Ceremony here.
Congratulations to the Council Rock School District on its Newly Renovated Holland Middle School!
SCHRADERGROUP is excited to have attended Council Rock School District’s Dedication Ceremony for the newly renovated Holland Middle School.
Dr. Robert Fraser, the Superintendent of Schools for Council Rock School District, articulated it best when he welcomed the audience to the “newly renovated, expanded and beautiful”–Holland Middle School… A school that belongs to everyone at the Council Rock Community and a school to be proud of”.
This project represents a tremendous transformation. Many areas of the facility were stripped to the concrete structure and rebuilt as a contemporary facility with 21st Century Learning spaces. Program additions to the current middle school include: an auditorium with balcony seating, new spaces for music, an auxiliary gymnasium, fitness room, additional classrooms and a new administration area. The interior of the building was completely renovated while the exterior of the building was updated with a new, contemporary skin—with new windows that introduce daylight throughout the facility.
SG is proud to have had the opportunity to partner with the Council Rock School District, to design a LEED Gold certified learning environment. The students of the Council Rock School District deserve this facility!
You can watch Dr. Fraser’s speech here.
SCHRADERGROUP Receives an Award of “Outstanding Project” in Learning by Design’s Fall Issue for the Phoenixville Area School District’s Early Learning Center and Manavon Elementary School
Phoenixville Area School District (PASD)’s Early Learning Center and Manavon Elementary School received an Outstanding Project award in Learning by Design’s Fall issue.
“…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 new 152,000 SF Early Learning Center and Elementary School is designed to support two specific grade structures in a “school within a school” format: Grades K-1 in an Early Learning Center, and Elementary grades 2-5. The new building was opened in 2017 and has been very well received by the community.
A primary goal for the facility is to create a focus on literacy and learning in a non-standard learning environment. In response, the design places the media and technology center at the core of the facility with all other functions radiating from it. This balance of the building seeks to minimize circulation space by maximize the use of those areas as learning environment.
SG is proud to have partnered with PASD on this ground breaking project.
Read more and see more photos of the Phoenixville Area Early Learning Center and Manavon Elementary School here.
You can read the Learning by Design Fall issue here.
SCHRADERGROUP’s Bristol Township School District Projects Featured in Sherwin William’s STIR® Magazine
SCHRADERGROUP (SG)’s Bristol Township School District (BTSD) Brookwood, Mill Creek and Keystone Elementary Schools are featured in Sherwin William’s STIR® magazine (special issue 2018.)
STIR magazine is…
“…the resource that explores the connection between color and cutting-edge design. It examines the many facets of color to help you bring a fresh perspective to your work. STIR® is a print magazine and email newsletter for design professionals.”
In the article, SG’s Managing Partner, David Schrader, describes how the finishes in these newly constructed BTSD elementary schools are used to create an environment that is brighter, lighter, exciting and stimulating to the students using them.
The spaces in these massive buildings are broken up using colors and shapes that act as wayfinding tools for the users of the building. All three schools share the same floor plan but each school has a different unique color palette of its own. The hues chosen for the schools is soft-toned to create a calming effect on children.
SG’s goal for these buildings was to create an inviting and beautiful environment that the District and its children are proud of—and the reception of these learning environments has been extremely positive.
Learn more about the Bristol Township School District Elementary Schools here.
You can read this whole magazine issue on the web here.
SCHRADERGROUP Shares Virtual Reality Technology with Hatboro-Horsham Students at the “When I Grow Up” 2018 Career Expo
SCHRADERGROUP (SG) Project Architects Danielle V. Hoffer and Devin Bradbury attended the Hatboro-Horsham School District’s first annual “When I Grow Up” 2018 K-12 Career Expo at Hallowell Elementary School. Attended by 50 vendors and professionals from around the region, this career exploration experience offered students and families hands-on activities related to dozens of careers to help them think, discuss and explore new ideas about potential career paths. As the Architects for the new Hatboro-Horsham School District’s Crooked Billet Elementary School, SG shared Virtual Reality (VR) technology, supported by Oculus and Revit 3d modeling, to “walk” the participants through the building design. To experience the design in a virtual spatial context not only provided the students an understanding of architecture using a medium that they were familiar with, but it also opened up a dialog with the students and families considering architecture and/or engineering as a future career.
You can read more about Crooked Billet project and see a rendering of it here.
Check out more about the Career Expo here or watch the video covering the Career Expo by Hatboro-Horsham School District.
SCHRADERGROUP Architect speaks at Upper Merion Area School District Classroom about Accessibility for All
The SCHRADERGROUP (SG) team recognizes that a part of our mission is to inspire and encourage the future generation of students, not just through the facilities we design, but by being a part of their education in the classroom.
Recently, Project Architect, Dan D’Amico, AIA, had the opportunity to visit with the 3rd grade class at Roberts Elementary School in the Upper Merion Area School District (UMASD). SCHRADERGROUP recently designed and currently has in construction two new elementary schools for UMASD, Caley Elementary School and Gulph Elementary School.
Mr. D’Amico assembled a presentation, “Architecture for Everyone” that highlighted the different challenges and design criteria architects encounter in order to make buildings accessible for everyone. He discussed how architecture has evolved over the years to include different standards that help make buildings accessible to different people. As part of this experience, students provided creative observations about ways architects can design buildings to help serve the people that use them.
After the presentation, a few volunteer students were asked to participate in activities that helped to illustrate the different struggles some people face that others take for granted. These activities allowed the students to experience why reach ranges, grab bars and other standards outlined by ADA are important for architects to follow. Afterwards, the 3rd grade students were inspired to “design” their own dream schools that were accessible to all learners.
The SCHRADERGROUP team will continue to contribute to the communities we serve—not only through dynamic design—but also teaching opportunities like these!