Brandon Middle School gets technology boost
Saturday, July 17, 2010
By DUSTIN BLITCHOK
Special thanks to The Oakland Press
The Brandon School District has completed construction of a new addition to Brandon Middle School, the Instructional Technology Exploration and Collaboration Center.
The grand welcoming for the center will be 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Aug. 8 The community is invited to the open house, said Paul Spoor, director of technology for Brandon School District.
“We’re really excited about this opportunity. I-TEC is an opportunity for us to meet varied learning styles,” said Superintendent Lorrie McMahon.
The addition was constructed using funds from the district’s voter-approved bond project for capital improvements. The new building, which is about 6,000 square feet in size, blends architecturally with the existing Brandon Middle School building.
The chief architects for the project were French & Associates, the contractor was Skanska, and Barton Malow handled technology for the project. Ground was broken last fall and the project was completed in nine months. Spoor and his technology staff are moving into the building from their previous office space in Brandon High School’s media center.
Spoor explained the thinking behind the building’s two “learn labs,” separated by a removable divider, which use a triangulated learning concept. The rooms have three projectors, four sitting locations, and no dedicated instructional space.
Spoor says the design means people in the room are “forced to collaborate,” and that the learn labs facilitate teacher-to-student involvement. Spoor says the natural point of instruction in a learn lab is the center of the classroom. The ideas for the learn labs and the building’s nontraditional seating come from the Steelcase Corp., headquartered in Grand Rapids.
The atrium of the building, called “the Eye,” can be “set up and torn down to meet anything you want to do; everything is mobile here, and everything has the ability to adapt,” Spoor explained. Community uses for the building may include senior activities and adult education. The I-TEC center will also be available for corporate rental.
All Brandon students now have student ID cards with a barcode, and Spoor says students will be able to use the center and check out equipment for instructional work. The regular business hours of the center have yet to be determined.
Director of curriculum Joanna McKinney says “we are very excited about our opportunity to have an efficient physical space that supports best instructional practice not only for our students, but staff and community alike.”
A pilot class from Brandon Fletcher Intermediate school, Amanda Goodloe’s fifth-grade class, will come to the I-TEC center in the mornings in the fall, where Goodloe will teach science, math, and language arts.
McKinney says the center also will be used for professional development for the district’s employees.
The first day of class in the district is Sept. 7.
Guess what?
In association with Indiana University, BARCO, BB&C, French Associates, Inc. has scheduled another Campaign College for Indiana School Districts.
September 23, 2010 in Indianapolis, IN.
Indiana election law now requires voter approval of various financial proposals. Unfortunately, most Indiana school districts don't have any experience developing referendum-related campaign strategies and communication.
That's why French Associates, Architects is co-sponsoring a "Campaign College" for school corporations that are contemplating an election in the next 1-3 years. The one-day program is designed to improve the chances of getting voter support for your referendum, and will be conducted at the Crown Plaza Hotel at the Indianapolis Airport.
French Associates, has partnered with Banach, Banach & Cassidy and Dr. Ronald E. Barnes to deliver a no-nonsense agenda that covers referendum campaigns from A-Z. You'll learn everything from citizen involvement to common mistakes to developing a campaign timeline. And, you'll take home a binder packed with finance campaign and school marketing material.
BB&C is America's premier school marketing firm, and French Associates is a Indiana/Michigan-based architectural firm that has helped its clients attain unparalleled success at the polls in Michigan, and recently with MSD of Washington Twp. Together their research-based, individually tailored campaigns have helped school corporations secure over $4 billion at the polls.
Contact DR. RONALD E. BARNES if you are interested in attending to learn of the details. It is suggested that you bring a team to the Campaign College. The ideal team includes you, a School Board member, and a key member of your administrator/principal staff.
The class size at the Campaign College is limited, so it is important that you enroll early.
French Associates has been retained by the Addison Twp. Library Board to provide Architectural and Engineering services for a new Library.
French Associates we will be responsible for verifying the program and preliminary design for the project, assist in the redevelopment of the preliminary design and work with library representatives to arrive at an appropriate design that will fall within the project budget. French Associates will also assist the library board in the development of a preliminary cost estimate.
As part of the Phase 2 - French Associates, Architects will assist with Community Survey and Bond Campaign Assistance. These service could provide assistance to the library board in the development of a community survey to determine the support for a millage proposal to construct the new library. The results of this survey will help to predict the outcome of a millage vote and assist the library board in the development of a communications plan to assist with pre-vote campaign efforts. French Associates will also provide guidance and assistance to the citizens committee established by the Library Board for the purposes of promoting the library building millage.
Orion Township has selected French Associates, architects to perform the architectural design for the Orion Township Fire Department's Station #3 located on Gregory Road. The new building will be approximately 7,000 s.f.
French Associates has completed a number of municipal projects, most recently the 16th District Court in Livonia.
16th District Court
Lenox Twp. New LEED Certified Twp. Hall
Northville Twp. Fire Department Headquarters
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On hand for the recent ribbon cutting of the new Star Academy athletic field are: Dearborn Heights Mayor Dan Paletko (left), Wayne County Exec Robert Ficano, CEO of Hamadeh Educational Services Nawal Hamadeh, Star International Academy Board President Jumana Ferencz, Oakland University's Mildred Taylor, Michigan Association of Public School Academies President Dan Quisenberry, Sir Michael Berry, Cyndi Berry and Michigan Department of Human Services Director Ismael Ahmed.
French Associates, Architects worked with Foresite Design Inc. in design and completion of this project.
Cros-Lex community schools will celebrate the ground breaking for Cros-Lex Highschool on June 2, 2010.
Croswell-Lexington High School, located near the shores of Lake Huron, had outgrown it's gymnasium, cafeteria and science laboratories. French Associates assisted the District with passing a financial bond issue, providing funds to begin additions and remodeling.
Major projects include the construction of a new, 1,400 seat competition gymnasium and a pair of state-of-the-art science labs. A new cafetorium can serve 400 for meals, seat 500 for performances, and improves the class schedule by halving the number of lunch periods.
A dramatic new events hall will act as a link between a new 200-car parking area/student drop-off and a new outdoor commons that serves the cafeteria and existing football field/track. The existing cafeteria and shop areas will become a new music room, general classrooms and computer labs. The final piece of the project adds a new roof line and a secured vestibule to the main entrance, controlling access to the building during the school day.
The James R. McCann Hall of Justice 16th District Court Dedication Ceremony was held on April 30th 2010. This new courthouse was designed in collaboration with French Associates, and Neumann Smith.
The 16th District Court, designed by French Associates and Neumann Smith, is located in the Civic Center complex of the City of Livonia. The facility complements the existing municipal buildings while improving the functionality of the court for all users. The design features two courtrooms, a magistrate hearing room, court clerk support space and an active probation department. Courtroom technology will be state of the art, improving security and efficiency of court operations.
The 38,600 sf facility is a two story building with security features inherent to the plan of the building. Circulation paths of users, including staff, public and in-custody persons are distinct and separate, while providing a strong sense of the transparency of the judicial process for all. The building is sited purposefully to enhance the frontage of the municipal complex and the architectural character will establish a sense of importance of the proceedings within.
The Shelby Township Board of Trustees opted unanimously to award the design of the new police station to French Associates, Inc. architects.
The project, which is expected to include renovations to the lower level of the municipal building - where the current police station is located - and a stand-alone building. The proposed 8,000-square-foot area in the municipal building is expected to be used for training and meeting space. An 18,000-square-foot stand-alone building is expected to house the police station next to the train at the township's municipal building at 24 Mile Road and Van Dyke.