Innovative Design and Building Services Off-Site Construction Methods Capitalize on Speed and Cost Efficiencies for Sturgis Charter School project In Hyannis, Mass.


(PRWEB) October 01, 2012

Interior and exterior finishing work is being completed on Sturgis Charter Schools new West Campus building. The 45,000 square foot building was constructed off-site at Innovative Design and Building Services (IDBS) Liverpool, Pa., facility and transported to the building site in Hyannis, Mass. A hybrid of on-site and off-site construction methods were employed allowing for tall ceiling heights and capitalizing on off-site efficiencies. Utilizing off-site techniques for the majority of the project, along with IDBS proprietary systems and processes, also aided in controlling the overall project costs.

The completion of the two-story structure, which includes numerous classrooms, a faculty lounge, labs, a library, office spaces, and an amphitheater-like seating space, doubles the schools capacity of 400 to over 800 students. Opening in the fall of 2012, the school will continue to offer an International Baccalaureate diploma which focuses on teaching students to be caring, reflective and open-minded.

Planning for the west campus began in November of 2009, but progress stalled. The momentum picked up when IDBS modular construction method was introduced as a solution. Off-site construction means less time, less overhead and less waste, which gave Sturgis Charter Schools reduced and fixed construction costs needed to complete the project.

The initial design was reviewed and adjusted to maximize the efficiencies of off-site construction. Innovative solutions were utilized to achieve larger, open rooms with high ceilings. All 96 building sections, constructed to meet the wind loads and hurricane requirements needed for the seaside school, were delivered and erected by IDBS crew in just 3 weeks. Onsite crews followed behind with HVAC, sprinklers, and completing the interior and exterior finishes.

Minimize site disruption with off-site construction

Off-site construction is well suited for classrooms and educational buildings. Schools can be designed and constructed to meet most architectural and customer specifications. By utilizing off-site methods, the disruption at the building site is limited, resulting in cleaner, safer environments for teachers and students. In most case, on-site work can be performed during summer sessions, further reducing the impact on the existing campus.

The IDBS construction process utilizes a myriad of off-site construction techniques. This unique system provides the advantages of quality-based, climate-controlled construction methods that can be customized to suit a wide variety of regional styles. The proprietary process is ideal for projects such as apartments, hotels, senior living residences, student dorms, town homes, multi-family and educational structures.

IDBS ability to provide accurate quotes and guaranteed pricing is supported by their 1,000+ strategic supply chain partners. Without problems like weather delays, and with very predictable material and labor costs, lenders and investors can have high confidence in minimal or zero cost overruns. Our customers value the fact that our pricing, which can represent up to 80-90 percent of an erected structures cost, is fixed and guaranteed, giving them the confidence that their construction budgets will be held intact, stated Steven Saffell Executive Director-Northeast.

IDBS was formed by bringing together the most experienced team of off-site building specialists from Excel Homes Group, All American Building Systems and Mod-U-Kraf Homes. These specialists have more than 300 combined years of off-site construction experience in all aspects of design, cost estimating and project management. With five facilities located in Indiana, Iowa, Colorado, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, IDBS has developed a national reach making it the market leader in off-site commercial and multi-family building solutions in North America.

For more information about IDBS, visit http://www.buildidbs.com. You can also view case studies of this and other IDBS projects by http:// clicking here.







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52.3% of Pennsylvanias Largest K-8 Charter School Grads Going On to Private, Charter and Out-Of-District Public High Schools


Chester, PA (PRWEB) June 20, 2012

When the new school year begins in September 2012, 52.3% of this years graduating eighth graders from Chester Community Charter School (CCCS), the largest K-8 charter school in Pennsylvania, will be attending a private or charter high school, or a public high school outside of the Chester Upland School District.

When the school held its graduation ceremony for 176 students, recently, more than 800 parents, guardians and friends of the school were in attendance. This years graduating class was CCCS largest to date, as the school has seen a dramatic increase in enrollment, as compared to its first middle school graduation, in 2006, which included just 48 students.

Continuing the schools tradition of preparing its students for the most academically challenging high school programs in Southeast Pennsylvania and Northern Delaware, more than half of this years graduates will go on to continue their education at 21 private, charter and out-of-district high schools, including, Episcopal Academy, Newtown Square, PA; Neumann Goretti, Philadelphia, PA; Ursuline Academy, Wilmington, DE; St. Josephs Preparatory School, Philadelphia, PA; Cardinal OHara, Springfield, PA; World Communication Charter, Philadelphia, PA; Girls High School of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA; Allied Health High School, Chester, PA; Wilmington Friends, Wilmington, DE; St. Marks High School, Wilmington, DE; Milton Hershey School, Hershey, PA; New Beginnings Academy, Chester, PA; Concord Christian Academy, Wilmington, DE; Hallahan Catholic Girls High School, Philadelphia, PA; Charter High School for Architecture and Design (CHAD), Philadelphia, PA; Delaware Valley High School, Philadelphia, PA; The School of Science and Discovery, Chester, PA; and Salesianum High School, Wilmington, DE.

Emblematic of the academic achievements of this years graduates was class valedictorian Sujeylee Alverez, who was recruited by more than 30 high schools.

In commenting about the students success in being recruited by prestigious high school programs, Dr. David Clark, CEO, Chester Community Charter School, said, I am proud of the academic growth, maturity and educational achievements of every graduating class, but this one in particular, was exceptional. Its been an especially challenging year to be a student in Chester, Pennsylvania, but when questions about our schools operation or about our childrens ability to learn are raised, I point nay-sayers to our results, because they speak for themselves. He continued, Our graduates are overwhelmingly going on to academically competitive secondary and post-secondary institutions and succeeding on their own terms; and for that I couldnt be prouder. A huge congratulations to the graduating class of 2012!

About Chester Community Charter School

Chester Community Charter School opened its doors on September 9, 1998, serving 97 students from its modest four meeting rooms, in the lobby of the Howard Johnson Hotel. Since that time, the school has steadily grown to include more than 3,000 students. http://www.chestercommunitycharter.org.