A hands-on design leader, firm founder, and advocate for experiential schools, David’s impact as an architect extends beyond good design and into the realm of educational influencer. While earning a master’s of architecture from the University of Pennsylvania (after an undergraduate degree in architecture from The Pennsylvania State University), he began his career as a designer with L. Robert Kimball & Associates. Over 13 years with the firm, David rose to the level of Vice President/Regional Operations Manager. He founded SCHRADERGROUP (SG) in 2004 and has since grown the firm to multiple East Coast offices (Philadelphia, Lancaster, Pittsburgh State College, Baltimore, and Raleigh) and over fifty staff.
Collaboration is the cornerstone of any good design process, yet SG manages to make it matter even more by using innovative approaches to user involvement through inclusive workshops and community engagement.
The recently completed Upper Merion Area High School in King of Prussia, PA presents a sterling example of SG’s dynamic, functional designs aimed at nurturing the next generation of leaders. This flagship facility provides career and higher-ed level spaces that foster a learning culture predicated on “Research, Develop, Present.” Inspired by multiple high-tech industry workspaces and contemporary higher ed facilities, the new school puts forth a career-oriented vision of secondary education. Principal Jonathan Bauer attests that the school’s design increases instructional opportunities by providing spaces conducive to student communication and collaboration styles.
David Schrader has been devout in his determination to extend the virtues of learner-centric design far beyond the 400+ projects he has touched by being a vigorous participant in industry associations and leadership endeavors. He has maintained long-standing involvement in A4LE (formerly known as CEFPI) serving in various leadership roles up to and including Chairman of the International Board of Directors. He was twice awarded Planner of the Year for the Northeast Region of CEFPI in 2009 and 2011 and honored with an International Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022.
