Kingscott Presents Gull Lake Schools with a $53,000 Check
On Monday September 19, 2011, Brendon Pollard, AIA, Principal, and Susan Einspahr, Chairman of the Board and Senior Principal presented a check for $53,000 to the Chris Rundle, Superintendent of Gull Lake Community Schools.
As Architects and Engineers for the new Gull Lake High School, Kingscott qualified for the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct) tax credits. Kingscott’s sustainable design of the building’s envelope and mechanical and lighting systems exceeds code minimum efficiencies by more than 50%. The school district and the community made efficient, economical design a priority, and Kingscott wanted to share with them the benefit of implementing an energy-saving design.
InterAct Celebrates a New Beginning
from left: Kalamazoo Mayor Bobby Hopewell, Executive Director Claudia Wink-Basing, and Roger Hinman
InterAct officially opened their new home on July 28 with a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by local officials and community members. Executive Director Claudia Wink-Basing cut the ribbon held by Mayor Bobby Hopewell and Roger Hinman of The Hinman Company.
Kingscott worked with The Hinman Company to design the building to earn LEED Silver certification. Photos of the interior are shown here. A video of the ribbon cutting is posted on our Facebook page.
ROI begins a Capital Campaign
Residential Opportunities Inc. (ROI) is the largest nonprofit mental health organization in Kalamazoo County and serves more than 400 people each month.
In partnership with Western Michigan University’s Department of Psychology, ROI is developing the Great Lakes Center for Autism Treatment and Research. It will be a residential resource and program for children with severe autism and serve as a home for up to 12 children between the age of 7 and 17. The Dr. Sidney Heersma Outpatient Clinic for Children will share the remodeled building and serve up to 100 children per year. The Clinic will focus on developing skills and tools to help children and their families improve the quality of their lives.
Kingscott assisted ROI in site and facilities assessments as the organization began a search for a new home. With a site selected, and a capital campaign underway, Kingscott is working with ROI to design a home for these programs. Here’s a conceptual plan for the new facility.
ROI has set as goal of $2.5 million for the campaign and has secured 25% of the goal (as of April 2011). To contribute, contact Ross Hamilton at 269.343.3731 extension 234.
Residential Opportunities Inc. website
Chenery Auditorium Honored
Chenery Auditorium rehabilitation project received the city of Kalamazoo Historic Preservation Commission’s 2011 Merit Award. The Commission’s award is given annually during National Historic Preservation Month and recognizes an outstanding rehabilitation of a historical structure.
The Commission also recognized the Friends of Chenery, Kingscott Associates, and Kalamazoo Public Schools with the Historic Preservation Award of Merit, annually given to the individual or group that actively promote and contribute to historic preservation in the city of Kalamazoo. Working together, the Friends of Chenery led the effort to raise more than $7 million dollars for the project.
 Donald Parfet accepts the award honoring the Friends of Chenery. |
 State Rep. Sean McCann (left) presents Alex Lee, Director of Communications for Kalamazoo Public Schools with the District's award. |
 Susan Einspahr of Kingscott, Sharon Ferraro of the Historic Preservation Commission and Brooks Godfrey of Kingscott. |
The Project
Chenery Auditorium was not an ordinary high school auditorium when it opened in 1924. The auditorium, with superb acoustics, has served as a classic performance and concert hall for the entire community for more than eighty-five years. Today, it is home to numerous performing arts groups including the prestigious Gilmore International Keyboard Festival.
Over the years Chenery retained its acoustical brilliance, but the interiors succumbed to wear and age. The Friends of Chenery led the Public/Private planning and fund raising effort to restore it into a premier performance hall. The scope included restoring the performance auditorium; creating a new lobby; and updating the entry, corridors, and back stage areas. The project focused on retaining Chenery’s historical design integrity.
Kingscott recognized as one of the “Best and Brightest”
Kingscott Associates has been named to the Michigan Business & Professional Association’s list of 2011’s 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work for in West Michigan.
Our staff is our greatest asset and this honor validates the effort that we put into making sure our “family” has a wonderful working environment. The honor is given to companies that exceed traditional practices to recruit, develop, motivate, and retain employees. Kingscott is one of only four Architectural/Engineering design firms named to the list. We were rated highly in Work/Life Balance, Community Initiatives, Employee Education and Development, and Recognition and Retention.
STEM Labs and Beyond
Kingscott's Gallery at 229 East Michigan Ave., Suite 335, Kalamazoo, MI
Exploring Inquiry-Based Collaborative Communities
Recently, two members of Kingscott’s staff made a trip to Germany and joined an invited group of international educational design specialists. They participated in a think tank session on creating collaborative education spaces.
Brendon Pollard, AIA, LEED AP and Joe VanDerBos, LEED AP are members of the think tank team invited by the America’s Schoolhouse Council (a consortium of U.S. education design specialists) and VS America (a Germany-based educational furniture designer).
The group’s goal was to explore a practical approach to inquiry-based learning spaces such as STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) facilities. The methodology will help school districts understand and implement these new and exciting learning spaces. The think tank team has documented their planning ideas. The next step is to share this information with educators and anyone interested in the newest educational concepts.
Results highlighted in a display January 17-28, 2011
Beginning January 17, Kingscott’s Kalamazoo lobby gallery will feature the group’s findings and concepts. This coincides with the statewide MASA (Michigan Association of School Administrators) conference being held in Kalamazoo later this month. The display will run through Friday, January 28th. The educators and the public are welcome to drop in during regular business hours or contact either Brendon or Joe at 269.381.4880 to schedule a tour.
Ypsilanti’s Ardis Tech High School
Ypsilanti’s Ardis Elementary school is being converted to house the new Technology High School at Ardis. This innovative learning/teaching program is based on student-driven, student-developed curriculum. Every student will have their own computer. Teachers will function more as facilitators to help students develop study goals and projects and monitor/assist in student success.
The project is partially complete with two new science rooms remaining to be built.
Kingscott Announces Promotions and New Stockholders
Kingscott is pleased to announce key promotions and new employee stockholders.
David Martin, LEED AP, Rob Atkins, P.E., LEED AP, Todd Haner, AIA
David W. Martin, LEED AP and Project Director has been promoted to Senior Associate. This is a key leadership position in the firm. Martin has been with Kingscott for ten years, serving as a Project Director for eight of those years. He is very active in the company serving on the Leadership Team, Scheduling Committee, Project Management Team, and the LEAN Team.
Robert Atkins, P.E. has been named an Associate.
Todd Haner, AIA has been named an Associate. Todd is a Project Architect and has been with Kingscott for ten years.
In addition, Kingscott embraces the policy of employee ownership. Six members of the staff have accepted stockholder positions:
- Alissa Ditta, ASID, LEED AP, Interior Designer
- Karla Dennis, Electrical CAD Designer
- Gabe Alvey, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Project Architect
- John Armstrong, AIA, Project Architect
- Justin Walker, Information Technology Manager
- Lyal T. Ward, P.E., LEED AP, Mechanical Engineer
Alvey Receives Architecture License
Gabe Alvey, AIA, LEED AP BD+C recently passed the Architect Registration Exam and has received his license from the Michigan State Board of Architects. Alvey graduated from the University of Detroit Mercy with a Bachelors of Architecture. He has thirteen years of architectural design and project management experience, and for the past ten years at Kingscott he has focused on designing educational buildings.
Gabe has worked with Michigan State University, Dexter Community Schools, Harper Creek Schools, Three Rivers Community Schools, and Kellogg Community College. Gabe and his family—wife Sherri and daughter Lilly live in Richland, MI. He graduated from Sturgis High School in 1994, and his parents David and Joan Alvy still reside in Sturgis.
Barbara Goebel joins Kingscott
Long-time educator, school district administrator, and MASA Region 5 Superintendent of the Year (08-09), Barbara Goebel has joined Kingscott Associates, Inc. She is responsible for K-12 business development and will assist some districts to plan and pass their bond issues. She will also partner with MASA (Michigan Association of School Administrators) to mentor new Superintendents. Barbara is looking forward to sharing her many years of experience and expertise as a Superintendent and Chief Business Official.
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