Tag: UMASD

SCHRADERGROUP + Upper Merion Area School District Speaking at the A4LE Southeast Conference

Join SCHRADERGROUP Managing Partner, David Schrader, and Upper Merion Area School District’s Superintendent, Dr. John Toleno, this Tuesday, March 8th at the A4LE Southeast conference.

They will be providing a session on “Designing for the Next Generation of Student Learning to Prepare Them for the World” using the School District’s newest High School project as a case study. The discussion will provide:

  • How designing buildings supports 21st Century Learning
  • How spaces can be designed to reflect current business models
  • How it is possible to provide opportunities across multiple grade levels for advanced course offerings
  • And a comparison of students’ reflection on their learning experience in traditional post-industrial environments versus learning spaces centered around self-directed learning environments

The A4LE Southeast Conference is in Roanoke, Virginia, and the session starts at 3 pm, on Tuesday, March 8, 2022.

For more information, please visit:

https://www.a4le.org/Southeast/Virginia/2022_Chapter_Conference/Program.aspx

We hope to see you there!

SCHRADERGROUP Welcomes the New Year!

2021 was a great year for SCHRADERGROUP. Our team grew both in number and in professional qualifications, we reconnected with clients and colleagues at conferences and events, our projects were featured in multiple publications, we participated in sponsorships and mentorships, and, most importantly, we inspired our communities with responsive, innovative, and sustainable architecture created through client-driven, collaborative practice.

SCHRADERGROUP would like to thank you all for the support and opportunities that have been afforded to us in 2021. We look forward to our continued relationships and the exciting projects that are planned for 2022.

See below for a recap of some of SG’s most memorable milestones from the past year!

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We had yet another exciting year of projects that were either completed or made great progress in 2021.

At the Start of the Year

Additions and renovations to Quakertown Community School District’s Neidig Elementary School completely transformed this elementary school to support project-based learning.

In the Spring

SCHRADERGROUP repurposed four pools and eight libraries at Hazleton Area School District’s K-8 schools to generate additional educational classroom space to accommodate growing enrollments.

Council Rock School District’s newly renovated Rolling Hills Elementary School achieved LEED Gold Certification and received an ACE Grant.

We made progress during spring construction (March, April, May) on a number of projects, including Upper Merion Area School District’s new Upper Merion Area High School, the sitework for Chatham County, North Carolina’s new Emergency Operations Center, the additions and renovations to the School District of Philadelphia’s Anne Frank Elementary School, the additions and renovations to North Penn School District’s Knapp Elementary School, and the construction of PennDOT District 6-0’s new Regional Traffic Management Center, among others.

During the Summer

We celebrated the School District of Springfield Township’s new Early Learning Center’s Ribbon Cutting Ceremony.

We showcased the newly completed Springfield School District’s new High School.

Last summer’s construction progress (part 1, part 2) included updates for the additions and renovations to North Penn School District’s Knapp Elementary School, the demolition and construction of Springfield School District’s Athletic Fields, the construction of PennDOT District 6-0’s new Regional Traffic Management Center, the construction of Upper Merion Area School District’s new Upper Merion Area High School, the additions and renovations to the School District of Philadelphia’s Anne Frank Elementary School and Paul Dunbar School, the construction of the Community College of Philadelphia’s new Career and Advanced Technology Center, the renovations to Bristol Township School District’s Benjamin Franklin Middle School, and the renovations to Council Rock School District’s Hillcrest Elementary School and Sol Feinstone Elementary School.

In the Fall

East Pennsboro Area School District held their ribbon cutting ceremony for their new Administration Center.


 

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SCHRADERGROUP is always committed to becoming fully involved with the communities in which we work and this past year was no different. See below for some of the ways we strived to inspire our communities.

We hosted design workshops for Hatboro-Horsham School District’s new Keith Valley Middle School project and for Great Valley School District’s new 5/6 Grade Center project. SG also hosted a planning workshop for Rose Tree Media School District’s new Elementary School project. It was great to be back in person for our consensus-based planning process for these projects as it is always a great exercise in collaborating with the Community and the School District.

The SCHRADERGROUP team also participated in multiple events that were not project related. Our team’s dedication to mentoring the next generation of designers and professionals include our participation in mentoring programs and Penn State University’s Architectural Alumni Group Seminars.


 

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Although some of our favorite conferences were cancelled or held virtually in 2021, we were happy to see so many of you both virtually and in-person at some of these great annual events. We were excited to have attended the PSU Virtual Career Fair, PASBO’s Virtual Conference, the North Carolina Sheriff’s Association Meeting, A4LE LearningSCAPES Conference in Colorado, Design Philly’s Kick-Off Meeting in Philadelphia at Cherry Street Pier, PASBO’s Facilities and Transportation Safety Conference in Lancaster, PA, and the DVASBO Trade Show in Oaks, PA.


 

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2021 was a year filled with awards and recognitions for SCHRADERGROUP and for some of our projects. A few of the accolades we received included:

SCHRADERGROUP making the Building Design + Construction Magazine’s 2020 Giants 400 report, as well as ranking in Architectural Record’s Top 300 Architecture Firms of 2020.

The School District of Springfield Township’s Enfield K-2 Early Learning Center earned quite a bit of recognition this year, with Learning by Design’s Spring 2021 Issue’s Outstanding Project, American School & University’s 2021 Educational Interiors Showcase’s Outstanding Design, Learning by Design’s Fall 2021 Issue’s Outstanding Project, and American School & University’s 2021 Architectural Portfolio’s Outstanding Project.


 

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Additionally, we celebrated some great milestones for the impressive individuals on our team—their growth is SCHRADERGROUP’s growth, and we couldn’t be more proud of their accomplishments both for themselves and for the firm!

This included welcoming Jillian Kreglow as our newest Architectural Designer and Brianna Smith as our new Office Administrator over the summer and welcoming Hugo Li as our newest Structural Engineer just last month.

Congratulations to our senior Architectural Designers Jeremy Ross and Paige Geldrich, for passing their exams and for becoming registered architects this summer. Congratulations are in order for senior Architectural Designer Chris Farmer as well, who recently passed his WELL AP exam in addition to becoming a registered architect.

We would also like to thank our summer interns, Leah Balderson and Dan Pawluczyk, for their contributions to the firm over the summer and we are excited to see their academic and professional growth in the future!

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SG leadership had a great year as well. SG Principal Harry Pettoni recently became the President of A4LE’s Chesapeake Bay/Delaware Valley Chapter. Also, SG Founder and Managing Partner David Schrader was inducted into the College of Fellows for the American Institute of Architects at the Lincoln Center in Washington D.C. in November. Congratulations David and Harry!

And last but not least, we are proud to recognize and celebrate the individuals who devoted so much of their time and expertise directly to the firm, congratulations to Regina Jean-Claude, Danielle V. Hoffer, Dan D’Amico, and Devin Bradbury on becoming SCHRADERGROUP Associates!

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The SCHRADERGROUP team remains socially active. Whether we are attending happy hours, work parties, fundraisers, or just simply going out to lunch, the team always has a great time together. But who can forget about golf as the ultimate social activity? It was great to return to the courses in 2021, whether for a charity game, a fundraiser, or just to play with friends and members of the SCHRADERGROUP family.

The team participated in some fantastic events including Council Rock Education Foundation’s 2nd Annual Golf Classic, Springfield Area Educational Foundation’s Annual Golf Tournament, Delaware Valley Association of School Business Officials’ Annual Golf Outing, Montgomery County Intermediate Unit Education Foundation’s 21st Annual Golf Classic, North Penn School District’s Educational Foundation’s 20th Golf Classic, and the SCHRADERGROUP Team’s Inaugural Golf Outing.


 

Welcoming 2022

We cannot wait for what may come in the new year! While SCHRADERGROUP has a number of exceptional projects in design, we also have many projects that will be approaching completion and we are eagerly anticipating more ribbon cutting ceremonies. We are very happily looking forward to another year of growth for our team members and for the firm as a whole. SCHRADERGROUP anticipates being able to participate in more conferences and attending more fundraisers where we can connect with our clients and collaborators. We will continue to inspire and mentor our younger generations, and to simply continue the wonderful relationships we have built over the years with all of you–our partners, our supporters, our families, and our friends.

We celebrate with all of you the accomplishments of the previous year and the optimism of the new one we are entering.

Cheers and have a safe, happy, and healthy new year.

From all of us at SCHRADERGROUP.

SCHRADERGROUP’S Commitment to Mentoring the Next Generation

At SCHRADERGROUP (SG), we are dedicated to learning. This is evidenced by the numerous educational facilities and associated projects we have completed over our 17-year history. In addition to the work we do designing educational facilities throughout the Mid-Atlantic, SG employees go above and beyond to help the next generation of professionals excel in every way possible. One such method is mentoring.

The SG team is involved in a variety of mentoring programs at the University and K-12 level, including the Pennsylvania State University Stuckeman School of Architecture Alumni Mentoring Program, the ACE Mentor Program of America, and other collegiate and private mentoring opportunities.

Managing Partner David Schrader is a board member of the Penn State Architecture Alumni Group (AAG). President of the group from July 2018 until July 2020, David is now the official Stuckeman School AAG representative to the Arts and Architecture Alumni Society. He has dedicated much of his time to ensuring the success of PSU students by guiding them through the hurdles of the industry and helping forge new relationships with key connections after graduation.

Following in David’s footsteps, multiple SG team members have joined the mentoring program at the Stuckeman School as well. Project Architects Eric Weiss and Paige Geldrich have been involved for three years while Project Architect Jeremy Ross and Architectural Designers Selby Niumataiwalu and Tyler Corbley are currently participating in their first year of the program.

Project Architect Chris Farmer is also active in guiding students to a brighter future. Chris is an active participant in Jefferson University’s Career Services Department, meeting one-on-one with Jefferson students interested in Architecture.

Recently, the office opened its doors to several area high school students interested in the profession by providing them with a day in the office and then a tour of the New Upper Merion Area High School construction site. Recent graduate and rising architect Jillian Kreglow supported the in-office experience and Associate Dan D’Amico provided the on-site construction tour along with Chris Gehm of W. H. Lane. We hope that this experience inspires those students to start on the path of architecture as a possible future career!

In addition to the programs SG employees participate in, mentoring is also a key aspect of our daily life here at SG. Each year, we welcome summer interns to the company in order to promote and nurture emerging talent. At SG, we recognize the importance of an internship in this industry and have found that offering a mentorship component can lead to our interns gaining the skills and experience necessary to succeed in the future.

Learn more about the PSU Architecture Alumni Group here.

Interesting in working at SG? Visit our Careers page here.

SCHRADERGROUP Construction Progress – March 2021

2021 has been off to quite a busy start here at SCHRADERGROUP! The team has been working diligently on multiple projects in both the K-12 and Public Safety markets, including Upper Merion Area High School, Chatham County (NC) Emergency Operations Center, Anne Frank Elementary School, Knapp Elementary School, the East Pennsboro Area School District’s Administration Office, and the PennDOT District 6.0 Regional Traffic Management Center and Parking Structure.

With the weather improving recently, construction progress has been speeding up! See below for details on each of these exciting projects.

Upper Merion Area School District – Upper Merion Area High School

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This month, the site finally started to dry out. Structural steel is being erected and the site was buzzing with activity!

Chatham County, North Carolina – Emergency Operations Center (EOC)

Chatham Site Aerial

Early site work has been moving along on this North Carolina EOC project. The pond construction, on-site water, and rough grading over the culvert are all complete while off-site water and road grading remains ongoing.

The School District of Philadelphia – Anne Frank Elementary School

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In Philadelphia, construction continues on the Anne Frank Elementary School. The concrete slabs are completed, and the CMU work is coming close behind. Both interior and exterior metal stud work is in progress.

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North Penn School District – Knapp Elementary School

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Phase 1 of Knapp Elementary School’s renovations and additions is nearly complete! An 8-classroom addition that includes a new bus entry canopy and vestibule will provide the swing space for the remainder of the renovation work. Demolition is set to start for the next phase, which will create a brand new Dining Commons, Large Group Instruction space, and secure entry.

East Pennsboro Area School District (EPASD) – District Administration Office

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Up near Harrisburg, the District Administration Office for EPASD is coming along nicely. The exterior steel for the addition is complete and the concrete slab was poured last week. Interior stud work is currently in progress.

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Department of General Services – PennDOT District 6.0 Regional Traffic Management Center (RTMC) and Parking Structure

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Back in Philly, the PennDOT RTMC building is off and running. The first section of retaining wall footing is being constructed and the grading for the building pad is underway.

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The activity at the parking structure is bustling as well. Steel installation at the stair towers is complete and rebar has been installed at the stair landing in preparation for concrete pours. CMU wall installation is underway as well as stud framing, HM door installation, and the sealing of vertical joints.

 

We are so excited to see these designs finally coming to reality! Thank you to our wonderful consultants and partners, particularly Heim Construction, Bala Consulting Engineers and Alfred Benesch & Company in their great work with PennDOT.

Learn more about these and other exciting SCHRADERGROUP projects here!

Recapping 2020: SCHRADERGROUP’S 16TH Year

2020 was quite a year. A year filled with challenges endured by all. We learned to live with new norms and learned how to adjust to dramatic changes not only in the workplace, but in everyday life as well.

But with these challenging times comes a chance to seize opportunities, continue growth and show our commitment to our clients, partners and the community. The SCHRADERGROUP (SG) team is grateful for all of the opportunities and experiences we have been able to participate in the past year (yes, that includes virtually), and would like to take the time to reflect on all that was accomplished in 2020.

While the SG team had participated in many events for this year, we have responded to all social distancing guidelines and appropriate pandemic responses.

The SCHRADERGROUP Team

2020 marks SCHRADERGROUP’s sixteenth anniversary…
SCHRADERGROUP was established on April 15, 2004. Since then, SG has been recognized both regionally and nationally for functional and dynamic design that offers the highest degree of service to the user, responds to and respects both the built and natural environment, and demonstrates inspired aesthetics.

New location…SG started off 2020 by opening a new office location in Raleigh, North Carolina. With existing offices in Philadelphia, Lancaster and Baltimore, SG is now more committed than ever to providing dedicated academic and public safety design to all our long-standing clients across the country, as well as welcoming additional opportunities in the North Carolina region.

Keeping our community safe…SCHRADERGROUP's 3D printed face shield visors
As the COVID-19 pandemic initially caused a severe shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) back in April, members of the SG team worked with Cornell University in their “Operation PPE” effort to provide protective gear for medical professionals. Sets of 3D printed face visors were paired with laser-cut shields and shipped to Mercy Catholic Medical Center in West Philadelphia.

Community Engagement

SG celebrated project initiations by attending several groundbreaking ceremonies…SCHRADERGROUP at UMASD HS GroundbreakingSG marked the beginning of construction of the Upper Merion Area School District’s (UMASD) new High School project with a Groundbreaking Ceremony. The 345,000 SF new facility connects the existing middle school through the athletic facilities creating a full secondary campus. The project was the result of a community-engaged master planning process and two successful UMASD elementary school projects.UMASD Front Facade

body img 2In August, SG attended the Groundbreaking Ceremony for the new Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) District 6-0 Regional Traffic Management Center (RTMC) and Parking Structure project. Designed to achieve a LEED Silver rating, the 2-story, 44,000 SF facility will expand PennDOT’s capabilities and enhance operations. The project is scheduled for completion in September 2022.PennDOT Site Entry-new

Event-1_SCHRADERGROUP_Community_College_of_Philadelphia_Groundbreaking_Ceremony_Dr_Generals_Mayor_Jim_KenneyManaging Partner David Schrader joined Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney and Philadelphia Community College president Dr. Donald Generals in the Groundbreaking Ceremony for the College’s new Career and Advanced Technology Center. The center will provide high-quality academic, career and technical programs to generate a thriving work force for the city’s transportation, manufacturing and healthcare fields. The facility is scheduled to open in 2022.
CCP 2020 02 19 CCP Rendering

 

SG projects reached completion…
While many projects were brought to conclusion, the pandemic eliminated the opportunity for the public to celebrate project completions through traditional ribbon cutting ceremonies. Although many ribbon cutting ceremonies were cancelled or postponed, SCHRADERGROUP is proud to showcase the following completed projects:
EPASD West Creek Blog SizeEast Pennsboro Area School District – West Creek Hills Elementary School & East Pennsboro Elementary School – Renovations
HASD Blog sizeHazelton Area School District – Eight Elementary/Middle Schools – Media Center/Classroom Renovations

In tune with our mission of community involvement, SG participated in the following events…

SG feature photoFollowing the district-wide facility assessment of Great Valley School District’s facilities, and just prior to the pandemic, SG supported a community workshop where participants commented on what they considered the main priorities for the district. The results of the workshop process were instrumental in developing a district plan for the next five to ten years.
SCHRADERGROUP attends PSU Career Day 2020Managing Partner David Schrader (PSU Class of 1991) and SG team members Eric Weiss (PSU Class of 2013) and Paige Geldrich (PSU Class of 2018) attended Pennsylvania State University’s 34th annual Stuckeman School Career Day in February, just prior to the pandemic. This day allows students a chance to network and explore careers in the fields of architecture, landscape architecture and graphic design. The SG team has participated in PSU’s Opportunities Week for years now, and always welcomes the opportunity to connect with future PSU graduates, other university graduates, and future architects.
Royalty Free GolfThe SCHRADERGROUP team attended two charity golf outings this year, the North Penn School District Educational Foundation’s 19th Annual Golf Classic and the Springfield Area Educational Foundation Annual Charity Golf Outing. SG is always looking for opportunities to assist in raising charitable funds for local school districts and is proud to support organizations that are committed to enriching the education and lives of students.

Presenting to the community…

In November, SCHRADERGROUP participated in two virtual presentations for local school district classes informing students of the architectural processes involved in our projects.

SG Project Manager Dan D’Amico presented to Upper Merion Area School District’s School Board and community a video update on the High School construction project. He then went on to show the presentation to a tech class at the High School, providing students a chance to see the site plan, floor plan and renderings. You can view this presentation here.

Managing Partner David Schrader co-hosted a presentation to a class in Council Rock School District’s High School North in November as well. The presentation focused on green building and was hosted with CRSD Director of Operations Doug Taylor.

SG’s commitment to design and sustainability for the next generation will not cease because of the current pandemic. We plan to continue our dedication to educational facilities and the community that use them into the new year, whether those activities can be done safely in person or virtually.

Conferences + Events

The SG team made exciting new connections at various conferences and events this year…

SCHRADERGROUP attended various virtual conferences this year in lieu of the usual in-person events.

The SG team attended the PASBO Facilities, Transportation & Safety conference this year. This conference looks into three critical areas in school business: Facility Management, Student Transportation and School Safety.

Managing Partner David Schrader and Senior Project Manager Danielle Hoffer, along with Upper Merion Area School District Administrative Team Dr. John Toleno and Jonathan Bauer, hosted a virtual presentation at the Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) Annual Conference in November.

Additionally, SG Principal Harry Pettoni attended the North Carolina Sheriff’s Association Fall meeting in Carteret County, NC in November. The NCSA conference allows sheriffs and deputies to come together to talk about key issues facing law enforcement agencies across the state. The conference followed all CDC guidelines.

Awards + Recognition

SCHRADERGROUP is proud to announce the following awards we have received in 2020…
SCHRADERGROUP ENR MID ATLANTICSG is honored to earn a ranking once again in the Engineering News-Record (ENR) Mid-Atlantic’s Top Design Firms list for 2020. We share this honor with all of our dedicated clients and partners whose continued commitment made this #96 ranking possible. You can view the full list here.

BD+C 2020 HeaderWe are also proud to announce that SG has ranked in 9 categories in Building Design+Construction Magazine’s 2020 Giants 400 Report. SCHRADERGROUP ranked #85 in the Top Architecture/Engineering Firms category, #49 in Schools, #46 in Public Safety Facilities, #89 in Sports Facilities, #91 in University/College Facilities and #89 in Local Government Buildings. You can view the full list here.
SCHRADERGROUP is also proud to announce making it into Architectural Record’s 2020 Top 300 Architecture Firms list at #274. SG is humbled to be included in this prestigious list.

 

SG is equally proud of the recognition for the following projects this year…
LEED Gold Plaques
SG celebrated with the Council Rock School District (CRSD), D’Huy Engineering and Breslin Ridyard Fadero Architects at the official presentation of LEED Gold Plaques for CRSD’s Holland Middle School and Newtown Middle School projects. SG designed Holland Middle School while Breslin Ridyard Fadero Architects designed Newtown Middle School. The two teams worked in tandem to design these facilities at the same time in order to create a level of educational parity and similar aesthetics within the two facilities. CRSD, with D’Huy Engineering’s guidance, was able to secure an ACE grant for both projects.

SCHRADERGROUP_Holland Middle School_Learning by Design Spring 2020CRSD’s Holland Middle School was also recognized as an Outstanding Project by Spring issue of Learning by Design. The issue shows what can be achieved with a complete addition and renovation to transform a 1970’s middle school into a 21st century learning environment. You can view this issue here.
Looking to 2021 + Beyond

We thank you for all of the experiences we have had during 2020 and are excited for more opportunities in the new year!

Wishing you, your families and loved ones a Happy, Healthy New Year!

From all of us at

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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.