7
one to Australia. Because we value their contributions and because their roles were less directly client-based, technology has allowed them to continue to work with our team. So far they’ve been able to continue to contribute in a meaningful way without requiring face-to-face contact. This issue might have been a much greater challenge if it hadn’t been tested and perfected by the technology that we all became used to during COVID. TZL: Over the years, you’ve undoubtedly faced some unusual architectural design challenges. Can you tell me about one that springs to mind and discuss the challenge/ solution/outcome? DS: Each project faces unusual challenges. A recent project – the Community College of Philadelphia’s new Career and Advanced Technology Center – was located on an urban site. Challenges included the quick change in grade along the city block where it was located; the elevated commuter rail that runs along the site at the second and third floor of the building height; and the multiple building functions that compete for access to the street level (part of the career technology program includes auto shop vehicle bays and heavy diesel bays). The solution was to make use of the grade to create a vehicle entry door into the vehicle bays from the higher adjacent city street and the heavy diesel bay access off of street entry below the elevated commuter train. That access point allows for the city buses and heavy rigs to do a U-turn into the facility and into the heavy diesel bays so students can work there. The balance of the program is housed on three floors above those bays. The facility takes up the entire footprint of the city block, so stormwater is an issue. To counter the stormwater challenge, the facility incorporates a green roof obviating the need for further contribution of the building stormwater to the city stormwater system. As far as outcomes, I think creative thinking and teamwork led us to the multiple solutions that created this amazing facility. We’re very proud of it! TZL: Who are you admiring right now in the AEC industry? Where do you see thought leadership and excellence? DS: I’ve focused my attention on a professional organization, Association for Learning Environments. That organization has provided me with an incredible exposure across the spectrum of K-12 that includes designers, planners, industry partners, and clients. Because of this diverse group
of membership, we collaborate in ways that I don’t believe you see in single entity professional organizations. Because of that collaboration, trends are revealed, but more importantly, good industry practices are hatched that are tested from planner and designer – all the way to the end user. TZL: Have you had a particular mentor who has guided you – in school, in your career, or in general? Who were they and how did they help? DS: My greatest business mentors have been friends who run other types of businesses. I enjoy seeing the diverse business models and learning about their challenges and experiences. A mentor in the K-12 planning business, Ed Kirkbride, introduced me to the Association for Learning Environments and promoted me within that organization. I hope I left the organization just a little better off than when I joined it. Thank you Ed Kirkbride. TZL: What’s your number one concern for the industry as a whole in say the next five years? What’s your firm doing to address it? DS: Staffing. Fewer staff available and a changing workplace culture. As for staffing, it’s important that we continue to channel and grow enthusiastic and interested young people into the schools of architecture and engineering. Many of the people in our offices are involved in mentoring high school and college students. SCHRADERGROUP holds shadowing days in the office for high school students and also goes into schools to hold seminars on the profession so we can catch people early on. We also have a robust summer internship program. When it comes to the workplace culture, COVID played a big role here. With hybrid work days and other new workplace standards, we feel like some of the teamwork that used to be encouraged by people being around each other (for at least 40 hours a week) has been reduced. We’re working hard to make sure all generations can communicate and collaborate around a table, but those connections have definitely been reduced. We worry about that. TZL: Trust is essential. How do you earn the trust of your clients? DS: We earn their trust by being transparent and trustworthy. It falls into our list of SCHRADERGROUP values required of our team members. Being humble and trustworthy means that we focus on delivering a good product and process. We
HEADQUARTERS:
Philadelphia, PA
NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES:
34
YEAR FOUNDED: 2004
OFFICE LOCATIONS:
Philadelphia, PA
■
Lancaster, PA
■
Baltimore, MD
■
Raleigh, NC
■
Pittsburgh, PA
■
MARKETS:
K-12
■
Higher education
■
Public safety/mission
■
critical facilities
Services:
■
Architecture
■
Interior design
■
Structural
■
See TRUSTWORTHY , page 8
engineering
© Copyright 2022. Zweig Group. All rights reserved.
EMBER 5, 2022, ISSUE 1467
Made with FlippingBook Annual report