News/Blog

When people think about buildings, they generally think about permanence. Sure, buildings fall into disrepair or are demolished every day; but for the most part, well-maintained buildings are intended to last for decades, if not longer. While preventative building maintenance is a topic worthy of its own discussion, the initial building design and construction, renovation, […]

Long Range Facility Plan The time has come. Though the Department of Education requires that all New Jersey public school districts maintain a Long Range Facility Plan (LRFP) with an approval date less than five years old, issues with the web-based software have resulted in districts getting a “pass.” Projects have been able to be […]

Vocational Support Like many things, college used to be a lot more affordable in the ‘good ol’ days.’ It’s getting increasingly expensive less attainable for many. Luckily for would-be students, there’s another option: vocational programs. And vocational support is rising. Vocational programs give learners the skills they need for a specific job. These are usually […]

School Security Protocols As of December 2018, Americans have been terrorized by 325 mass shootings this year, many of which have taken place in schools. That’s not counting other incidents of school violence, threats, and other safety issues. In order to be proactive, school security protocols must be a major concern for administrators, educators, families, […]

Facilities Master Plan If you are like most facilities owners or managers, there are always more capital needs than funds available. So how do you decide what to fund first and how long can the work be reasonably deferred, if necessary? Begin with the End in Mind – You Need a Plan As a sort […]

Green Architecture Firms Explained All of us living on Earth are the stewards of our planet, and it’s our responsibility to keep it healthy for ourselves and for generations to come. A green architecture firm does this by designing and constructing buildings while understanding the impact a building will have on the local environment and […]

School Architects “We shape our buildings; thereafter they shape us” – Winston Churchill Put simply, school facilities DO impact learning, and with high-quality, safe, durable buildings, students and teachers perform better. A school is one of the community’s most valuable assets and is one of the most important facilities in a person’s life — whether […]

Building Condition Assessment The condition of your building now, and its potential condition in the future, impacts decisions about your budget, repairs and maintenance, and construction projects down the road. Without a building condition assessment, however, you are simply guessing at what kind of shape your building is in, and what needs to be done […]

What Does an Architect Do? (It may be more than you think) An architect is like the composer and conductor of an orchestra — he or she has a major role within a team. Architects of community spaces – such as schools, offices, and neighborhood buildings – are not just designing a building or drawing lines […]

On September 18, the Fort Lee Board of Education proudly unveiled the second component of their 2014 referendum, a three-story addition to School 2.  On hand for the celebration were members of the Board, district administrators, and town officials.  The addition will allow for the district to eliminate the need for off-campus rental of classroom […]