Brings in a
NEW ERA of school building P R O J E C T PA R T N E R S CREATE + SOLVE + ADVISE
• Architecture and Development Planning
HOLISTIC BUILDING with COMMUNITY IN MIND Alan Ruth, Vice President of Facilities & Construction at New Horizon Academy, discusses the company’s growth across the US and how it continues to develop sustainable, economical and community focussed schools
“Working at New Horizon Academy, where children have a safe place to grow and learn, I’m doing something that matters and will have a long-term impact on the community” — Brian Stuelpner, VP of Strategy, Planning & Architecture
“Working at New Horizon Academy, where
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maintenance, IT and the compa-
children have a safe place to grow and learn,
ny’s 100-plus fleet. “They needed
I’m doing something that matters and will
someone to head up that national
have a long-term impact on the community.”
presence and help grow the
For Alan Ruth, Vice President of Facilities &
brand across the US. I have many
Construction, New Horizon Academy is more
different department heads who
than just a developer – it works to nurture the
report to me, and I set them up for
children and communities of the future.
the future. I started working with
The family-owned Minnesota business was
key decision-makers for the com-
founded by elementary school teacher Sue
pany, inside and out, seeing what
Dunkley who recognised the need for children
our goals were and putting all
to learn in a nurturing environment. The com-
departments on track to achieve
pany is now led by her son, CEO Chad
those goals.” He also oversees
Dunkley, who was one of the first students at a
day-to-day facilities manage-
New Horizon Academy. Since 1971, New Hori-
ment: “At all times, we’re
zon Academy has expanded across the US to
negotiating long- term contracts,
design and build bespoke, holistic school
for all services, which include:
buildings and is still growing, with 75 schools
energy, lawn care, snow removal,
in its portfolio and 12 under development.
cleaning and repairs.”
Ruth joined the business in 2014 and has brought many elements of the business
FOCUS ON LEARNING
together, overseeing a variety of departments
“Our buildings are designed
like construction/development, purchasing,
around the students,” Ruth
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Alan Ruth has 25 years + in the Development, Construction & Facilities field with many companies including: Ryan Companies, Bally Total Fitness, Abercrombie & Fitch, CKE Restaurants, & Emerald & Diamond Foods
emphasises, adding that CEO Chad Dunkley
it’s all put into the plan of how the
works with state and federal government as
building should look and feel. We
well as the University of Minnesota, Harvard
build and install things with a set
University, Yale and many others, to ensure
of eyes of a child. Everything we
the business is focused on child development.
look at is specific for the clientele,
“We find the right environment for the chil-
such as the design of doors in our
dren from the way we build the buildings to
classrooms with finger guards so
size, classrooms, ergonomics, you name it…
no child’s fingers get pinched.” w w w. n e w h o r i z o n a c a d e m y. c o m
Caring Beyond the Classroom
06 STRATEGIC COLLABORATION
strategic savings by bringing pur-
Designing bespoke schools requires collabo-
chasing together under one roof,
ration to promote synergy. “Every project has
so to speak. “Over time, we’ve
something that creeps up so it’s about being
started to buy materials our-
ready with every team member prepared to
selves. By going straight to the
respond,” Ruth explains. “Not just internally
manufacturers, we can reduce
but externally, from ownership to people run-
costs, avoid mark-ups and basi-
ning the schools, building them and supplying
cally become our own supply
material. We’re all on the same page.” It’s also
chain. Over time, instead of get-
important that management empowers staff
ting more expensive with inflation,
to take ownership and work toward common
our buildings have slowly gone
goals. “They’re really behind the direction
down in cost because we con-
we’ve taken the different departments. I’m
tinue to buy more directly. That’s
very fortunate to have the backing of not just
why I ended up taking purchasing
the owners but my team members.”
over, to put us in the position to
In addition, Ruth has been able to make
do more of this in the future.”
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFORMATION
A key ingredient for holistic building development? “Technology has of course been our friend,” says Ruth. “Each of my departments has specific software to keep projects on schedule and at cost. We send out reports weekly or monthly to share with ownership and other departments, so we have a good handle on where we’re going. Technology has done a wonderful thing for us – we have better control.” Ruth has also found that a level of independence is healthy, ensuring employees have the freedom to explore more digital initiatives. “I leave it with each department head to present me with what they feel is the best software for their department and why.” BIM (building information modelling) software is also used, with the company’s architect having upgraded from CAD to Revit, which shows preliminary design in 3D, virtual
“ Part of the education is building efficient buildings to teach responsibility for future generations” — Brian Stuelpner, VP of Strategy, Planning & Architecture
reality model. “Back in the day, if I showed blueprints to people who weren’t in the trade, it was hard for them to see what a room would really look like. With this new software, you can put a 3D model on a screen and walk
to Ruth. “Technology is going to
through the building, inside and out. It helps
change the way we build and
the group move ahead because there are less
make our buildings more efficient.
change orders. People can question things at
We’re going to get a better
an early stage. There’s a clearer understand-
product, and we’ll be able to
ing throughout the process.”
enjoy even greater time and
Transformation is set to continue, according
cost savings.” w w w. n e w h o r i z o n a c a d e m y. c o m
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75
Number of schools developed by New Horizon
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12
Number of projects currently under development
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w w w. n e w h o r i z o n a c a d e m y. c o m
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1971 Year founded
Lighting is not just a sustainability factor but helps child development too. “There has been a lot of research on colour tuning, natural and unnatural, colours and hues, what’s best for certain activities or how different colours and ray beams help development and growth in each room.” Classroom design varies across age ranges, but always keeps functionality in mind. In particular, it’s important to have
A SUSTAINABLE, HOLISTIC FUTURE
indoor play areas with enough
As it implements the latest technology, New
room for activities if students
Horizon Academy is seeing its buildings
can’t go outside. Even the exterior
become even greener through a sustainability
play areas are designed where
focus, from implementing skylights which
children can venture out for work
make the most of natural light, to water-saving
and play. “One of our partners,
sinks and lighting control systems, as well as
Cre8play, is a national provider
using automation to control temperature. “We
based in Minnesota that studies
also work with local utility companies to figure
exterior play areas to understand
out how we can become more efficient with-
age-appropriate playgrounds,”
out taking away from the comfort and
Ruth explains. “Like everything
functionality of the buildings,” Ruth adds.
we do, it’s for fun but also to help
“LED lights have really saved us. With the
children grow and learn. We part-
new lighting control system, we fluctuate how
nered with Cre8play to not just
much light we use to save money, and LED
get a play area you could have at
has a full range of what you can do, from col-
home, but something that means
ours to cycling on and off.”
children can learn as they play.” w w w. n e w h o r i z o n a c a d e m y. c o m
11
When You Drop Off We Pick Up
CREATE + SOLVE + ADVISE
• Architecture and Development Planning • Construction Management Consultant, Owners Representation • Zoning Appeals • Expert Service, Construction Disputes and Forensics • Designing and Building Creative Child-Friendly Environments since 1988
Proud to be working with New Horizon Academy. CONTACT: A. PETER HILGER, AIA
Phone: 612-868-3636
Email: philger@rylaur.com
“We work with local utility companies to figure out how we can become more efficient without taking away from the comfort and functionality of the buildings” — Brian Stuelpner, VP of Strategy, Planning & Architecture
“We use different materials now that meet
future. Its proudest achievement
more of the LEED Certification as we strive to
in Ruth’s book is a flagship center
become LEED certified. We’re using more
in north Minneapolis. “It’s one of
recycled materials that are safe for children
the more impoverished areas, but
like LVT (luxury vinyl tile) flooring. We’re
we built our nicest ever building
becoming wiser with the materials we use,
there for the community to rein-
which sends a good message.” Ruth adds
vest in the children. We’re
that this sustainable focus is important for
basically going into areas others
children to see. “Part of the education is build-
won’t, taking on challenges oth-
ing efficient buildings to teach responsibility
ers won’t and turning around
for future generations such as how to control
projects that the community
lighting.”
loves. That’s what I’m most
That’s just one-way New Horizon Academy
proud of.”
is focused on building communities for the
w w w. n e w h o r i z o n a c a d e m y. c o m
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3405 Annapolis Lane N, Suite 100, Plymouth, MN 55447 T 763-557-1111 www.newhorizonacademy.net