BERKLEY, Michigan, February 17, 2010 – SHW Group, one of the nation’s largest architecture and engineering firms specializing in design for the education sector, has hired nine new staff members at its Berkley, Michigan, studio.  They are as follows: Matthew Paterson as electrical engineer; Brian Harte as lead electrical engineer; Joe Mitra as senior project architect; Scott Morgan as mechanical engineer; Philip Leader as MEP group manager; Steven Jelinek as project architect; Paul Farquharson as project architect; Kelli Johnston as interior designer and Amanda Coburn as mechanical engineer intern.

As electrical engineer, Matthew Paterson is working on Eastern Michigan University’s Pray-Harrold Classroom Building and other electrical design projects for SHW.  Matthew is a graduate of Wayne State University.

As lead electrical engineer, Brian Harte, P.E., will be working on SHW’s design of many Michigan higher-education engineering projects. With more than 25 years of engineering experience, Brian holds a bachelor’s of science degree in electrical engineering from Michigan State University.

Joe Mitra, AIA, has joined SHW Group as a senior project architect.  Joe has more than 25 years experience in the architecture industry. He is a graduate of the University of Detroit.

As mechanical engineer, Scott Morgan, P.E., will be assisting on several mechanical design projects for SHW Group. Scott graduated from The University of Michigan.

Philip Leader, P.E. has joined SHW Group as vice president and MEP group manager. Prior to SHW Group, Phil spent more than 20 years at an architecture firm in Detroit, most recently serving as vice president and director of mechanical engineering. Phil has worked with multiple clients in the university, commercial and healthcare sectors, including General Motors, Providence Hospital, The University of Michigan, Michigan State University, University of Michigan Health Systems and Detroit Public Schools.  He is a graduate of The University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.

Steven Jelinek, LEED^® AP, has been hired as an intern architect and is currently working on SHW’s design of the new Library of the Future at Grand Valley State University. He holds a bachelor’s degree in architecture from Lawrence Technological University and a master’s degree in architecture from The University of Michigan.

Paul Farquharson has joined SHW as an intern architect.  In this position, he will be working on multiple higher-education projects.  He holds a bachelor’s degree in architecture from Lawrence Technological University.

Kelli Johnston has joined SHW as an interior designer.  She holds a bachelor’s of fine arts degree in interior design from Kendall College of Art and Design,  is NCIDQ-Certified (National Council for Interior Design Qualification), and is a member of the International Interior Design Association (IIDA).

Finally, Amanda Coburn has joined SHW Group as a new mechanical engineering intern for the winter term.  She currently attends Kettering University.

Combined, the nine new employees hold degrees from eight different universities in Michigan, a testament to the quality and strength of Michigan’s higher-education institutions as well as the diversity of knowledge at SHW Group.

About SHW Group

SHW Group, LLC a Michigan-based architectural and engineering firm is one of the state’s leading educational design firms. More than just an A/E firm, the company is known for its comprehensive collaboration with educators, and researchers to design innovative facilities that support the learning process. For more information about SHW Group, please visit www.shwgroup.com or follow the firm on Twitter at http://twitter.com/shwgroup.

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Media Contact: Claire Bloxom
claire@coopersmithagency.com, (214) 329-9191

Completed in 2008, the $33 million school offers career-focused and technical “cross-collaborative” education for 11th-and-12th-grade students

PLANO, TEXAS, February 9, 2010 – Frisco Independent School District’s $33 million Career and Technical Education (CTE) Center has been honored with the national 2010 Shirley Cooper Award, which is presented annually to architecturally significant educational projects that best meet the educational needs of its students. The award is hosted by the American Association of School Administrators (AASA), the American Institute of Architects and the Council of Education Facility Planners’ International Architectural Jury.

The CTE Center opened in the fall of 2008 and was designed by Plano, Texas-based SHW Group, one of the nation’s largest architecture and engineering firms that specializes in design for the K-12 and higher education sectors. The school will be honored at an awards ceremony at AASA’s 2010 National Conference on Education in Phoenix. This is SHW Group’s second Shirley Cooper Award. In 2001, the firm was honored for its design of Roy Lee Walker Elementary School in McKinney, Texas.

Part of the Frisco Independent School District, the 125,618-square-foot CTE Center is a school- of-choice facility where college-bound and career-bound 11th-and-12th-grade students engage in a cross-collaborative experience that merges real-world professional environments with educational programs.

“To be recognized at an international level by educators, facility planners and architects sends a strong external message about the talent and knowledge of our design team. The project was also significant internally because it defined a new project approach for us—we became an extension of the Frisco ISD. As a result, the CTE center has become a model for the approach we take on all of our projects,” said Jimmy Strohmeyer, managing principal of SHW Group. “Long before the CTE Center project hit the drawing boards, our firm engaged with school administrators, community businesses and corporate partners to craft a vision for the facility. That vision was substantiated through insightful research that included school tours nationwide, end-user surveys and consultation from colleges and businesses.”

The contemporary two-story structure was designed to consolidate the resources across multiple campuses within a single building. Thus, it allows students to explore their interests and focus on possible job options. As a result, the tools, environment and curriculum the students are exposed to closely resemble what they will experience in the real world as young adults. For example, the center offers a full-service restaurant, credit union/bank, a court room for mock trials, TV and radio studios, computer and animation labs, an architecture lab, marketing and media centers, medical and veterinary science labs, a warehouse, a copy center and a mail room. A 4,000-square-foot greenhouse was also constructed to support the horticulture curriculum.

SHW Group also designed the center to offer unique “cross-collaborative” opportunities.  For example, students from the marketing program team up with students from the TV and radio programs to write, shoot and edit television ads promoting sales and other activities. These ads, as well as other content created by CTE Center students, are displayed on a two-story flat screen media wall located in the center’s centralized atrium. With the ability to divide into 15 screens, this wall inspires student interest in the various programs and facilitates communication among students, teachers, administrators and the community.

Since its completion, SHW Group has been honored with several awards for its design excellence for the Frisco CTE Center, including:

• Outstanding Secondary School construction award in TASA/TASB’s school architecture competition, recognized in all six categories: value, process of planning, design, educational appropriateness, innovation and sustainability;
• 2009 Terrazzo Honor Award from the National Terrazzo and Mosaic Association, given to 14 of the best mosaic or faux-marble floorings in the country;
• Silver Citation for common areas from American School and University;
• Recognition as an innovative school in American School and University; and,
• Momentum Award in the Workforce Catalyst Category from the Dallas Regional Chamber.

“Winning the Shirley Cooper Award validates what we’ve known about the Frisco CTE all along — that it’s a great example of what districts can achieve when planning, educational vision and design all come together,” said principal-in-charge Trey Laird. “The real reward is hearing about the success students are having in their project work—the stories are unprecedented and highlight a program that gives kids a chance to define what they want to do after high school, be it a career or college.”

“As a result, everyone wants a tour,” Laird continues. “The district has welcomed many educators, architects, government officials and business leaders inside the facility for a first-hand look of an all-around extraordinary learning environment.”

For more information about SHW Group, please visit www.shwgroup.com.

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Media Contact: Nicole Traycoff
ntraycoff@shwgroup.com, (214) 473-2424

Claire Bloxom
claire@coopersmithagency.com, (214) 329-9191

Strohmeyer selected for inspirational commitment and service to education clients

PLANO, Texas, February 4, 2010 — Further demonstrating the firm’s commitment to providing clients with high-quality architecture for the education sector, SHW Group’s North Texas Region has officially announced Jimmy Strohmeyer as a managing principal. Strohmeyer previously held the title of principal in charge which he accepted in 1999. He began his career with the firm in 1994 as an assistant project manager for school district clients including the Rockwall ISD, Lewisville ISD, Highland Park ISD and Plano ISD.

“Jimmy’s obvious leadership qualities were why he was named managing principal for our North Texas studio,” says Kyle Bacon, chief operating officer for SHW Group. “He successfully manages the studio’s operations, as well as new business and strategic planning for the region. Throughout his career, he has strived to contribute to the future of children in America, and he looks for any opportunity to make an impact by creating learning environments that foster discovery.”

Strohmeyer joined the firm after working as a project manager and team leader at BSW International in Tulsa, Okla., where he managed a project team responsible for producing $2 billion annually in construction. In 1990, he earned his bachelor’s degree in architecture from Louisiana Tech University, and through the years, he has been involved with numerous education and community organizations, including the YMCA, Rotary, Kiwanis and PTA. Strohmeyer also was nominated and selected as a finalist for the 2006 Superintendent’s Award of Outstanding Character and Citizenship for his “exemplary citizenship and service to others” in recognition for his response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina.

“Throughout his years at SHW Group, Jimmy has served the firm and its clients with a passion and dedication that are exemplary examples to his colleagues,” said Jonathan Aldis, principal in charge for the North Texas studio. “He also possesses a way of building consensus and inspiring others to do their very best which has major implications for the future of our firm and the North Texas studio.”

For more information about SHW Group, please visit www.shwgroup.com.

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Media Contact: Nicole Traycoff
ntraycoff@shwgroup.com, (214) 473-2424

Claire Bloxom
claire@coopersmithagency.com, (214) 329-9191

SHW Group designed Gloria Marshall Elementary School to meet LEED and Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) criteria; Has already been accepted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to receive an ENERGY STAR rating due to its energy-efficient building design

HOUSTON, January 25, 2010 – SHW Group’s Houston studio, one of the world’s largest educational architecture and design firms, has completed the design for the new “green” two story, 105,000-square-foot Gloria Marshall Elementary School for the Spring Independent School District near Houston. Currently under construction, the new school will open in August 2010. It will be the first school in Houston to use geothermal heating and cooling, which is expected to save at least 25 percent in energy consumption over the current code.

The school was designed to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification and has already been accepted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to receive an ENERGY STAR rating due to its energy-efficient building design. In addition, SHW Group designed it to meet criteria for Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS), the nation’s first green building rating program especially designed for K-12 schools. The mission of the CHPS is to facilitate the design, construction and operation of high performance schools— environments that are not only energy and resource efficient, but also healthy, comfortable, well lit and containing the amenities for a quality education.

“Spring ISD considered repeating an existing floor plan for Gloria Marshall Elementary School,” said Jody L. Henry, LEED AP, project manager for SHW Group. “During the design process, the district questioned SHW Group about daylighting, energy efficiency and water conservation. That discussion led SHW to produce a green design concept.”

In order to save the district additional construction costs and also deliver a school that responded to the district’s needs and intentions, SHW Group re-designed the plan, transforming it into a two-story, sustainable, high-performance school, without adding any additional costs to the district’s capital budget.

Once complete, Gloria Marshall Elementary School will be a rectangular building oriented with long sides facing north and south. Each classroom will have natural light and the south-facing classrooms will take advantage of daylight harvesting. In addition, the building was designed to have lights off in the classrooms 75 percent of the time, so each room will have sensors that turns the lights on and off based on the levels of natural light in the room.

The entry to the building will be alongside a science garden and eco-pond that includes an above-ground cistern and a water trough. These can be used to teach children integrated concepts about math and science that allow for real-world experiences. Under the parking lot and playgrounds is a geothermal well field that will house a system of tubes and valves that take hot and cold water in and out of the building. Through the use of a web-based learning tool, students will be able to interact with the building systems and know the temperature of the water as it leaves the building and when it returns from deep in the earth.

Additional green features include a highly reflective white-colored roof, an on-site wind turbine, 10,000-kilowatts of roof-mounted photovoltaic cells (which will convert sunlight directly into electricity), a butterfly garden along a walking trail, and an underground cistern that will collect rainwater from the roof and be used to flush toilets and urinals. Also, trees from the existing site will be reused in the building as desks, benches and conference room tables.  The school will also use less water by having no irrigation and many of the materials used for its construction will be made with recycled content or made of rapidly renewable resources.  With all of these sustainable amenities, the school itself will act as a tool for teaching and for learning.

“Spring ISD has been a fast-growing school district for several years, and we have a philosophy that ‘instruction drives construction.’ We are excited about the opportunities this new school will provide for our students to learn about conserving resources,” said Dr. Ralph H. Draper, Spring ISD superintendent.

“There is no greater advantage to a LEED school than using it as a teaching tool for our next generation,” added Henry.

For more information, please visit www.shwgroup.com.

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Media Contact: Nicole Traycoff
ntraycoff@shwgroup.com, (214) 473-2424

The educational architecture firm was honored for its design of projects at Central Michigan University and Jackson Community College

DETROIT, January 11, 2010 – SHW Group has been honored with two 2009 Honor Awards from the Detroit Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) for the firm’s design of Central Michigan University’s (CMU) College of Education and Human Services Building in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, and Jackson Community College’s (JCC) William Atkinson Hall Information and Technology Center (ITC) in Jackson, Michigan. SHW also recently received a 2009 Citation of Excellence for its design of the JCC project in Learning By Design magazine, an annual publication of innovative school design.

The SHW Group projects were two of 11 projects to receive this year’s award from more than 40 total entries the jury reviewed, which consisted of a panel of distinguished architects headed by Rob Pfaffmann, AIA, President of Pfaffmann + Associates, Pittsburgh, PA. The winning projects and architects were recently honored at an awards program where recognition plaques were presented to the firms who created the work because “it is the architect’s ability and skill that gives it an aesthetic and practical merit and to the building owners whose cooperation and understanding of the work made it possible,” according to Detroit AIA.

CMU’s College of Education and Human Services Building

Completed in June 2009, the $50-million, four-story, 137,000-square-foot College of Education and Human Services Building at CMU enhances the ability of the school to meet the learning needs of its students, the instructional needs of its faculty and the functional needs of its supporting staff. The design process began in early 2006 and called for state-of-the-art academic instructional spaces, classrooms, labs, a child development center, as well as staff, faculty and departmental offices.

The College of Education at Central Michigan University prepares teachers to teach in the 21^st-century learning environment. To that end, the building functions as a learning tool to educate children and college students. All senses were explored in the crafting of the building bringing texture, light, smell and color to the forefront of design. The child development labs are exceptional examples. Positioned on the southern side of the building for rich daylight, the development program provides an immersive learning environment. Children are complex and learn and grow in a multitude of ways. A rich color pallet derived from nature complements the natural woods and slate stone featured in the space. Light is central to learning in this space. The large windows also engage the children; their paintings on transparent film when hung on the glass lets sunlight pass through the art transferring color into the room. This integral relationship of the architecture and pedagogy creates a cohesive way for children to connect with the world through their senses. The outdoor learning environment immediately adjacent to the children’s lab utilizes rich textures and materials. Through gardening and play, the children manipulate this microclimate while stimulating and fostering different ways of interpreting reality and a critical awareness of our world.

“The College of Education and Human Services Building is a testament of our firm’s integrated design approach,” said Tod Stevens, AIA, LEED AP+, principal at SHW Group. “This one project features everything, from its dark slate exterior, ventilated wall system made of terra-cotta rain screen panels and displacement ventilation to its beautiful recycled tiles, bamboo walls and classrooms with 12-foot wall-to-wall windows and integrated sun screens. These design elements demonstrate how this truly is a one-of-a-kind facility. SHW Group is proud to be associated with a project that brings unprecedented opportunities that are rich with innovative technologies and engaging learning and teaching environments for its students and faculty.”

“The project takes a deep program and plan of multiple collaborative departments and creates a clear cohesive whole. The breakdown of the building massing using contrasting recycled and sustainable materials provides a substantial expression of the collaborative spatial organization within. The building is a bold expression in space and material of the college’s commitment to high-quality collaborative learning environments,” said the Detroit AIA jury panel.

JCC’s William Atkinson Hall Information and Technology Center

The $16.5-million, two-story, 53,000-square-foot William Atkinson Hall Information and Technology Center (ITC) at JCC was completed in August 2007. It is considered the foundation for a new renaissance at the college and is an innovative approach to multiple academic programs, resulting in a new hybrid building. This building merges the library, information commons, student lounge, flexible classrooms and multiple staff offices into a single structure. The ITC is the academic center for the college and provides state-of-the-art services to the surrounding community. The new multipurpose informational and instructional building provides for the needs of 21st-century learners, researchers and community members alike.

“Conceptually, the structure provides for the relocation and expansion of the existing college library and college information technology programs, as well as providing space for new instructional program development,” said Janice Suchan, AIA, LEED AP, principal at SHW Group. “The design successfully creates a strong individual presence for the ITC without disrupting the fabric of the campus. It is also a strong new symbol for the college, as the material selection took cues from many of the original buildings. These materials—brick, glass and wood panels—were expressed in a contemporary and refreshing manner, resulting in a handsome addition to the college community.”

“The project transforms a late modern campus while creating a dynamic new space for the college. By taking cues from many of the original buildings, the existing buildings are given new life. The exterior design opens the internal program and commons to views and makes critical visual connections to adjacent buildings,” said the Detroit AIA jury panel.

ABOUT SHW GROUP

SHW Group, LLC, a Michigan-based architectural and engineering firm, is one of the state’s leading educational design firms. More than just an A/E firm, the company is known for its comprehensive collaboration with educators and researchers to design innovative facilities that support the learning process. For more information, please visit www.shwgroup.com.

ABOUT AIA DETROIT CHAPTER

The American Institute of Architects Detroit, headed by Mark Nickita, AIA, of Birmingham, is a chapter of the 83,000 member national organization. The mission of the Honor Awards program is two fold, 1) to show the public “What Architects Do” and to inform about the value and importance of architectural excellence and 2) to enable architects to better understand notable achievements so that excellence becomes the standard.

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Media Contact: Nicole Traycoff
ntraycoff@shwgroup.com, (214) 473-2424

Claire Bloxom
claire@coopersmithagency.com, (214)329-9191

Architecture firm hosted presentation by accomplished K-12 grant-writing consultant, author and public speaker with award-winning tips

HOUSTON, October 20, 2009 – Recognizing school districts are facing very challenging financial decisions in this current economic environment, SHW Group’s Houston studio hosted regional educators for a unique grant-writing presentation entitled ” School funding made easy: How to secure bond, stimulus and other dollars for your district.” Led by K-12 grant writing specialist Dr. Beverly Browning, the one-day seminar afforded grant writers, curriculum specialists, financial managers and facilities managers with critically needed writing skills and nearly four decades of award-winning tips to help their districts increase their funding success rates. Held at the design firm’s studio on 20 East Greenway Plaza, the free event attracted attendees from different school districts.

“At SHW, we are committed to enhancing learning by not only providing high-performance, sustainable design but by focusing on our clients’ unique challenges,” stated Mark Lam, AIA, LEED AP, managing principal for the Houston studio. “We understand what our clients are facing during this economic recession and their desire to secure stimulus dollars. And we are working diligently to provide them with every tool possible to assist them in securing financial stability for their respective districts.”

It’s estimated that billions of dollars in stimulus funding will be awarded via the state’s remaining bond funds and other competitive funding opportunities. This session improved the chances of the participants’ applications getting noticed and approved. The attendees also left with the knowledge of immediate and long-term funding options to achieve financial stability, direction on how to combine district facts with competitive writing approaches and writing direction on how to meet peer review evaluation criteria.

“The school funding workshop was an excellent program,” stated Karen Phillips, a secondary science teacher for the Fort Bend ISD. “I took away valuable information regarding how to secure funding for my district as well as tips about public relations and partnerships with local businesses. I would definitely like to attend additional training opportunities like this one in the future.”

For more information, please visit www.shwgroup.com.

About Dr. Beverly A. Browning

Dr. Browning has been a grant writing consultant to K-12 school districts for nearly three decades. Her expertise has helped school districts win more than $150 million in grant awards from federal, state and private sectors. She is a sought-after speaker and has authored more than two dozen grants-related publications including Grant Writing for Educators and Perfect Phrases for Writing Grant Proposals.

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Media Contact: Nicole Traycoff
ntraycoff@shwgroup.com, (214) 473-2424

Claire Bloxom
claire@coopersmithagency.com, (214) 329-9191

Completed in 2008, SHW Group served as the architect for the $33 million center, which offers career-focused and technical “cross collaborative” education for 11th and 12th-grade students

PLANO, TEXAS, October 15, 2009 – Frisco Independent School District’s $33 million Career and Technical Education (CTE) Center, which opened in September 2008, has been honored with a 2009 Terrazzo Honor Award from the National Terrazzo and Mosaic Association. One of 14 winners, the annual awards program honors the best terrazzo installations completed within the calendar year and are judged on excellence in craftsmanship, originality of ideas, intricacy of design, artistic and faithful reproduction of the architects’ or designers’ drawings, scope of work, and quality of construction materials. Plano-based SHW Group, one of the largest educational architecture firms in the U.S., served as the project architect.

Located at 9889 Wade Boulevard in Frisco, Texas, the 125,618-square-foot CTE Center is a facility where college-bound and career-bound 11th and 12th grade students engage in a cross-collaborative experience that merges real-world professional environments with educational programs.

“The Frisco CTE Center offers students a showcase to share specialized learning opportunities with each other and with their community,” said Trey Laird, AIA, LEED AP, principal in charge for SHW Group’s North Texas studio. “Light, space, materials, and technology are intertwined to create an experience for students that differentiate traditional notions of what a school can look like. The use of terrazzo flooring with recycled glass and mirror aggregate accentuate the notion of light as a compositional element throughout the facility, with a pattern that reinforces movement, exploration, and way finding throughout the building. The flooring selection also responds to the owner’s desire for a durable and low maintenance option with eye toward sustainability.”

As stated by the National Terrazzo and Mosaic Association judging panel, “The CTE Center is the perfect marriage of traditional design and contemporary finishes. Naturally, the design team selected 3/8″ epoxy terrazzo with 100% recycled glass and porcelain as the highlighted flooring option. The focal point of the building is the illuminated vertical glass enclosure in the atrium area. To bring focus to this piece, the design team added terrazzo accents in the shape of rays in order to depict the energy of the piece radiating throughout the building. The multi-colored terrazzo patterns in the corridors speak to the kinetic energy of the building brought about by the natural hustle and bustle of numerous students negotiating the hallways. In addition to the terrazzo floor, the design utilized coved poured in place terrazzo wainscot, precast terrazzo tread and riser pieces, as well as a monumental stair featuring 3″ thick precast terrazzo treads finished on all four sides. Ultimately, the overall sparkling terrazzo in this facility will create an everlasting impression on anyone who enters.”

For more information about SHW Group, please visit www.shwgroup.com.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL TERAZZO AND MOSAIC ASSOCIATION

The National Terrazzo and Mosaic Association annually conducts an awards program to honor member contractors for executing exceptional terrazzo work. Projects are judged on the basis of quality of workmanship, design, and creativity. The judging process is completely nonbiased, and conducted by a panel of terrazzo experts and architects who are not made aware of the contractor or location of each job they are evaluating. Every year the Honor Awards competition produces terrazzo installations of exceptional quality, incredible design intricacy, and unbelievable beauty. These stellar terrazzo floors are the result of superior workmanship, precise attention to detail, sensitive artistic ability and thoughtful ingenuity.

The Honor Awards exist because of the architectural and design community. The professionals who specified the terrazzo in these projects should be congratulated for their contribution to the sustainability of each building featured, the low lifecycle costs incurred by the floor, and the enduring artwork of the finish. Each of these floors will last the life of the building, and provide a beautiful finish to all who walk upon them. For more information, please visit www.ntma.com.

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Media Contact: Claire Bloxom
claire@coopersmithagency.com, (214) 329-9191

SHW Group designed the 200,000-square-foot Michael R. Null Middle School which will accommodate more than 1,000 students

HOUSTON, October 14, 2009 - The new 200,000-square-foot state-of-the-art Michael R. Null Middle School has officially opened in time for the 2009-2010 academic school year. The three-level, “green” school is the second middle school in the Sheldon Independent School District, one of the fastest-growing school districts in Harris County and the greater-Houston area. SHW Group’s Houston studio, one of the world’s largest educational architecture and design firms, served as the project’s architect.  Houston-based Dyad Construction served as the project’s general contractor.

Located on a 100-acre site at 12117 Garrett Road in Houston, SHW’s design of the modern “Texas-themed” middle school embodies specialized solutions to both issues of size and style.  Completed in August 2009, the school addresses the district’s steadily growing population and was designed to accommodate more than 1,000 students. In addition, its cafeteria, gym, library, media center and other facilities are large enough to accommodate an additional 500 students when required. This adaptable design will permit the middle school to expand as its student body grows, saving the district the cost of excessive building now and reducing the need for an entirely new school later.

“Sheldon I.S.D. has a vision that students learn in smaller groups; therefore the student capacity is divided into two learning houses,” said Chris Hinton, studio coordinator and project manager for SHW Group. “Each house is divided into three levels separating sixth, seventh and eighth grades providing for a comfortable and secure environment that encourages students to get to know their immediate faculty and inspire learning and confidence as the student progresses in age.”

Sheldon ISD also wanted a building that honored Texas history and style. Using traditional inspiration and modern design, the school has a uniquely personalized feel. Believing that “instruction should drive the construction,” SHW’s design for the school was based on an old Texas town square where storefronts flanked a central gathering space — either a courtyard or gazebo — and an adjacent railroad that delivered people and supplies to each town.  The plan has two “houses” or communities located to the east and the west of a central courtyard representing the adjacent storefronts, while the “gazebo” or LGI (Large Group Instruction) located in the courtyard is attached to the main building for larger meetings.  The railroad is represented by an aluminum canopy cutting through the courtyard that connects the north and south areas of the building. Where a railroad typically travels through a small town, SHW placed this main walkway so that the common spaces and assembly areas could be reached with ease.

“Michael R. Null Middle School is as ‘modern Texas’ as you can get. From its range of tans and browns representing the Texas soils and longhorns to its burnt orange brick color and the Texas yellow sunset that beams down the middle of the cafeteria ceiling, this school does a stunning job of representing the Lone Star State,” added Hinton.

Designed with sustainable principles in mind, Null Middle School incorporates several green features, including daylighting, high-quality acoustics and technology, and low-emitting materials, all of which further promotes a productive learning environment. The district’s desire to connect students with nature via exterior views worked well with the school’s daylighting strategy, as multiple classrooms and other learning spaces feature floor-to-ceiling windows that are oriented to offer students views of the outdoors, as well as receive maximum daylighting. This daylighting will also result in a reduction of energy consumption and costs by greater reliance on natural light and also improved student performance. In addition, large flexible open spaces — such as a raised platform in the central courtyard that is used for multiple purposes such as outdoor teaching and musical performances — were designed to promote collaboration and gathering and also serve as social learning spaces.

Linoleum flooring was also used throughout the school, which is created from natural raw materials, contains virtually no trace of toxic materials, and is naturally beneficial to air quality. With linoleum and ceramic tile flooring used throughout the building, the new middle school is a no-wax building helping with maintenance costs.  In addition, masonry, ceramic tile, and exposed wood decking all add to the warmth, sustainability and appeal of the facility.

Sheldon I.S.D students, staff and faculty could not be more thrilled with the building and believe that all aspects of sustainability, design and educational appropriateness have been achieved and that the design of the building will help students be educated through smaller instructional communities and through great design.

For more information, please visit www.shwgroup.com.

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Media Contact: Claire Bloxom
claire@coopersmithagency.com, (214) 329-9191

Nicole Traycoff
ntraycoff@shwgroup.com, (214) 473-2424

SHW Group designed the $35 million project, which is seeking LEED Silver certification

DETROIT, October 7, 2009 - SHW Group has recently completed Wayne State University’s Richard J. Mazurek, M.D., Medical Education Commons, comprised of a 34,000-square-foot addition of the existing medical school facility and a 69,000-square-foot renovation of the existing Vera Parshall Shiffman Medical Library, both of which are connected via an elevated and enclosed walkway. Wayne State’s School of Medicine is the largest single-campus and third largest medical school in the nation. This three-story complex creates a new image and identity for both the WSU School of Medicine and the Vera Parshall Shiffman Medical Library.

The new Medical Education Commons is the heart of the school and features state-of-the-science technology. The addition creates a physical and programmatic bridge between the two component facilities and complements the urban fabric with a dynamic and enduring design. The facility includes a clinical skills center with four simulation labs, new computer labs and a testing center. Additional spaces include student services, classrooms, collaborative study areas and a ‘Super-Service’ desk for the public and students, as well as administrative offices and related support functions. The ‘FLEX’ classroom frames the new front door of the medical school. This highly collaborative learning environment is planned around a large, flexible open space with small breakout pods along the perimeter.

At the June 5, 2009, grand opening, Robert Frank, M.D., executive vice dean of the medical school, said, “There is no finer, contemporary state-of-the-science medical education facility than the Mazurek. We will train more and better physicians because of it. And we will do so in a facility that is aesthetically pleasing and friendly to the environment. This building is full of glass and light and says welcome to the community of scholars, physicians, students and patients.”

The Shiffman Medical Library renovation provides state-of-the-art library facilities for end users, staff and the collection. The library underwent extensive renovations and design planning to improve its overall performance, efficiency and ease of use.

Remarked Sandra Yee, dean of university libraries for Wayne State University, “The Mazurek Medical Education Commons has provided the WSU library system with the opportunity to create a 21^st century medical library that will anticipate and meet the needs of our users. We are thrilled to be able to open the doors to this new and comprehensive information resource.”

The project possesses many sustainable features, including the use of energy-efficient HVAC equipment, CFC-free refrigerants, low-water-use plumbing fixtures, high-efficiency lighting and commissioning, and it is seeking LEED silver certification.

“The Education Commons project complements the urban fabric with its dynamic and enduring design,” said Janice Suchan, principal in charge of the project for SHW Group.

ABOUT SHW GROUP

SHW Group, LLC a Michigan-based architectural and engineering firm is one of the state’s leading educational design firms. More than just an A/E firm, the company is known for its comprehensive collaboration with educators, and researchers to design innovative facilities that support the learning process. For more information, please visit www.shwgroup.com.

ABOUT WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY

Wayne State University is a premier urban research university offering more than 350 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to more than 31,000 students. For more information, visit www.wayne.edu.

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Media Contacts: Claire Bloxom
claire@coopersmithagency.com, (214) 329-9191

Nicole Traycoff
ntraycoff@shwgroup.com, (214) 473-2424