In Session - Fall 2021

FALL 2021

Lessons in design for K-12

IN Session

Topics and trends for educators and administrators from LaBella’s educational design & engineering team

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Right This Way

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COVID-19 Funding Sources Available

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Home Field Advantage at Fowler High School

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The Importance of Wayfinding and Environmental Graphics for Your District Campus

Watch a Video Case Study of Fowler’s Field of Dreams

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In Session LaBella Associates |

Fall 2021

LaBella Welcomes David Kaye, AIA!

“PUBLIC OFFICE IS A PUBLIC TRUST.”

FACILITIES THAT FACILITATE BELONGING As the world continues to seesaw between remote and in-person environments, the advantages of being present together in the same space are no longer taken for granted.

When it comes to uniting communities, the built environment can play a role in fostering our common purpose. Interior Designer Anne Weis writes for this issue on using environmental graphics and branding to engage occupants as part of an overall wayfinding and identification strategy. Civil Engineer Meghan Friedle details the incredible feats of engineering that were required to give one urban high school the home athletic facilities their teams craved. From each of their areas of expertise, both women make a powerful case for the impact design can have on a school community.

Don’t take our word for it alone - we encourage you to scan the QR code that accompanies the Fowler Field of Dreams article to hear directly from the Syracuse community about that project’s impact. It’s exactly why we do what we do - and look forward to continuing to serve you in 2022.

After many decades of partnership, LaBella is proud to welcome David Kaye to our team of K-12 experts!

David served as Rush-Henrietta CSD District Architect prior to retirement from the District, and will now tackle a new role as Senior Project Architect for LaBella.

David is an experienced leader with expertise in all facets of K-12 facilities management. In his 30 year career, David has implemented over $200 million dollars of Capital Improvement Projects - enhancing facilities and adapting the physical environment to educational requirements.

He is skilled in formulating long- and short-range capital and maintenance plans. He is also well-versed in preparing budgets and formulating capital financial requirements for Boards of Education. His goal with all projects is to meet the evolving academic needs through tactical program implementation and collaboration with district administrators and staff.

David will be a valuable resource to not only our LaBella K-12 team, but to all of our K-12 clients as well.

Welcome David!

In Session LaBella Associates |

Fall 2021

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COVID-19 Impacts

COVID-19 Funding Sources Available

By Eric Stender, AIA The COVID-19 pandemic has had an immeasurable impact on schools and communities throughout New York State and the country. As a result, the federal government has authorized three separate funding streams to address this impact. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRSSA) Act and the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act are all federal relief funds designed to provide support, with the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) fund specifically designated to address the needs of school districts as they strive to bring students back into the classroom.

While there are many ways to utilize this federal aid, several can be targeted toward the physical needs of the school district.

Some examples of these are: •

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Technology purchases to provide or enhance online learning to all students, including infrastructure improvements.

Facility repairs and improvements that enable the ongoing operation of schools to reduce virus transmission, including replacement of carpeting with tile to enhance the ability of surfaces to be sterilized.

Improvements to indoor air quality including mechanical HVAC system replacement, modifications or new installation.

With a clear understanding of uses and timelines, districts can seize the opportunity to modernize facilities for both short- and long-term needs.

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Non-mechanical ventilation schemes such as adding or replacing exterior windows, doors, and skylights.

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Modifications to facilities to encourage social distancing, including construction to bring formerly shuttered buildings or building wings online

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Purchase of a new building or modular classroom to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic by providing additional space to permit social distancing.

Depending on the funding stream that is applied for, there are specific deadlines for when the federal funds must be obligated (usually meaning a purchase order is written for this work). These deadlines all fall on September 30, and must be obligated by 2022 for ESSER 1 funding, 2023 for ESSER II, and 2024 for ARP ESSER. Districts intending to use federal funding will still need to submit their projects to NYSED if they exceed $10,000. NYSED has implemented some processes to expedite review in order to

obligate funds prior to federal deadlines. Included is the elimination of a public vote if ESSER is the only source of funding, an expedited (6-8 week) review of projects, and allowing the use of ESSER funding for projects that have been previously submitted (though districts must submit an updated FP-FI form).

The total amount New York State has been awarded under ESSER is $8.9 Billion. In order for a district to apply for funding they will need to submit a single CARES Act fund application for ESSER and GEER using the online SED monitoring and vendor reporting system on the NYSED website.

Once awarded funding, the process to utilize the federal money remains the same as other sources, with the only difference being the LOI, SED paperwork, drawings, and specifications all need a note indicating “Federal Stimulus Money”. Districts are encouraged to utilize the federal money for a standalone project in order to take advantage of the expedited SED review and processing time.

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In Session LaBella Associates |

Fall 2021

Feature

Right This Way

Wayfinding is more than just signage - and a thoughtful approach to both is necessary for educational campuses.

By Anne Weis, CID

Imagine your child is the star of their high school sports team. You are all set to attend the event that will seal their spot in the sectional championship. You Google the address of the school where the final match will be held, you’re late leaving a meeting at work, and - to make matters worse - you’re caught in traffic on the way there. Finally you arrive on the campus just at the start… only to find that you entered the wrong parking lot and the event is across campus! You wonder if you can cross the fields on foot or if it would be faster to drive down the side roads.

You wind up taking the car, pull into the correct parking lot, weave through the aisles to find a spot that’s not on the lawn (mud), and by the time you reach the stands…you’re too late! You’ve missed your child’s shining moment on their “field of dreams”.

Such is the problem for many educational settings, be it the campus or school interior.

Stressful situations are made worse when they occur in unfamiliar surroundings. Wayfinding is one of the most overlooked aspects in the design of the built environment, but is often one that delivers a crucial contribution to the health, safety, and welfare of the public. A proper wayfinding strategy can clearly identify areas by

function, restrict access to secure or potentially hazardous areas, and direct first responders to a location. According to the Society for Experiential Graphic Design, wayfinding “refers to information systems that guide people through a physical environment and enhance their understanding and experience of the space.”

“Is this Heaven? No, it’s [Intuition]” While signage is often considered the primary solution to a wayfinding problem, design professionals have other options in their toolkit.

Designers can craft a multi-layer wayfinding approach that helps empower occupants and visitors to make efficient navigational choices to their destinations. The clearest wayfinding is non-verbal; it uses the intuition of the occupant by means of visual indicators. Changes in scale and volume, color accents, and lighting are essential to placemaking. A common obstacle to efficient wayfinding is the failure to make spaces within a facility look unique. Creating an identity for spaces helps the users feel a deeper connection to their surroundings, which, in turn, heightens the value of the programming the facility offers. In the design

In Session LaBella Associates | At Canandaigua CSD, LaBella used identification signage to denote the locations of each of the twelve athletic fields on the campus.

of new buildings and major additions, the arrangement of spaces and lines of sight are key to the success of keeping visitors on the most efficient route of travel. An environment that simplifies the path to destinations without the use of text facilitates user access and is more inclusive for those that are differently-abled and culturally diverse.

Still, due to the complexity and size of today’s educational settings, signage is a must-have element in a campus wayfinding strategy. In signage design, tools such as maps, color, text, and symbols are essential to orient the occupants within a building and lead them on their route.

Design professionals must have an understanding of the building code as it applies to signage as a precursor to the design of a wayfinding project.

Factors such as the height of the text in comparison to viewing distance, font, pictogram type, and the sign material are all items that are regulated by the building code.

Working with the stakeholders to establish the key destination points and the hierarchy thereof is a critical first step in the process of the wayfinding program. The goal of directional signage to these destination points is to limit the information while maximizing the context. Too much information may

lead to confusion and delay decisionmaking at high traffic intersections.

LaBella’s design team for the Canandaigua City Schools 2020 CIP took these practices into account for the design of Canandaigua Academy’s exterior wayfinding signage. The team devised a family of signs based on an analysis of arrival, departure, and decision points on the path of travel for the campus. Typically, a proper sign system must include four categories of signs: identification, direction, orientation, and regulatory. In the case of Canandaigua, LaBella used identification signage to denote the locations of each of the twelve athletic fields on the campus. A series of directional signage was planned at four entrance points to the campus which then sequenced to signs within the three parking lots, and ultimately led to the school building and athletic facilities. Campus map signs were documented for both vehicular and pedestrian traffic at major intersections and at divisions of space. Regulatory signage was specified by the civil team members for traffic and accessible parking, as well as messaging for campus rules and regulations. With a cohesive and comprehensive signage system, visitors to the campus will be empowered to make appropriate navigational decisions rather than requiring help and delaying event arrival.

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To further enhance the signage package and architectural design, environmental graphics can be used.

Environmental graphics involve the use of large scale imagery and multisensory user interaction. Instead of standard one-way communication, changeable content, lighting effects, touch activation, and motion are all techniques used to captivate the viewer and enable them to be an active participant in the transfer of information. These graphics are a supplemental approach to support efficient wayfinding and craft an overall design language.

Environmental graphics provide the opportunity for an organization’s brand to be highlighted in the physical space for a cohesive experience. They range from 2D applications to digital installations; from small and subtle to large and human scale. In the case of educational facilities, the use of branding in architecture appeals to the sense of pride of the students and staff. It helps the users feel more connected to their surroundings while enabling a sense of community.

The design team on the Arkport Central Schools 2019 CIP used environmental graphics to denote the function of spaces in the historic portion of the building. Existing structural glazed tile pilasters were reimagined as a display surface for Arkport’s Bluejay mascot branding.

The pilasters in the corridor spaces changed from a neutral color to blue as a signal to the occupants that they were approaching the new Gym and Fitness Center.

When thinking of your campus and school buildings, how is it that you want your organization to be remembered? Effective wayfinding creates a positive first impression that is unique to who you are. It delivers the message and values you want your organization to reflect. The effect on the well-being, safety, and security of the occupants alone offers a high return on investment.

In the case of educational facilities, the use of branding in architecture appeals to the sense of pride of the students and staff. It helps the users feel more connected to their surroundings while enabling a sense of community.

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In Session LaBella Associates |

Fall 2021

Athletics

Home Field Advantage The story of how Fowler High School in Syracuse, NY overcame significant construction challenges to create their “field of dreams”.

By Megan Friedle In the fall of 2009, The Public Service Leadership Academy at Fowler (PSLA at Fowler) in Syracuse, NY played their last outdoor home game. The athletic field was torn up to construct a building addition. The boys and girls soccer teams played up the street at Burnett Park. Track and field events, lacrosse games, and football games were played at other schools in the area. The feeling of the home game was forgotten. Culminating a decade of waiting, in 2019 the construction fence finally went up, and the field of dreams was underway.

LaBella’s design team was tasked with creating facilities worthy of the home field advantage. The scope was straightforward: design an 8-lane track, synthetic turf field, tennis courts, practice field, and associated infrastructure. Certainly, this program was familiar to the design team. So why did it become one of our most complex engineering projects to date? In this project, the hurdles were not just on the track. They were many years in the making, but all were cleared when the project was completed in 2021.

To start, the intended site, adjacent to the school, was a brownfield that was previously the Franklin Auto Plant and later the Carrier Corporation. It was also in a floodplain, discharged to an impaired watershed, and landlocked in an urban area between an existing development and city streets. The limited footprint in which to fit a track and field facility, tennis courts, practice fields, and associated amenities presented a significant challenge.

There was only one orientation that could fit the track while still allowing for an appropriately sized soccer field inside. The schematic design progressed, while more challenges awaited below the surface.

Two substantial utility conveyance systems traverse the site. The first is an enclosed 30-foot by 8-foot Harbor Brook culvert. Harbor Brook flows from the south to the north and discharges into Onondaga Lake. An associated easement additionally limited the type of development that could be constructed over the culvert and 20 feet on either side. Such constraints limited the area in which a permanent structure could be placed, such as concession buildings, fencing, grandstands, or a pressbox.

Second, several sewer conveyances owned by both the City of Syracuse and Onondaga County needed to be relocated to allow construction of the project. Working closely with the City and Onondaga County, a relocation plan was developed that would reduce combined sewer overflow from this portion of service.

This was accomplished with the use of an adjustable weir that could be configured at the County’s discretion.

With solutions to the surface and utility challenges resolved, it was time to tackle understanding the soils on site. It is typical in site design to do soil borings to identify the bearing capacity of the existing material to support structural features such as buildings and stadium lights,

and to design pavement sections to support the loads of vehicles.

It was understood this site had a “complicated” soil profile, but it was soon discovered just how complicated the design would be.

Initially, 30 borings were taken to understand the soil conditions. When the boring results came back, the variation in soil profiles made having one overarching solution impossible.

The many years of the ebb and flow of Harbor Brook carved out low points, and these areas filled with very fine particles (such as sand, silt, and clay) and vegetation. Additionally, abandoned building foundations from the Franklin Auto Plant were encountered. With this information collected, it was uncertain if the soils could support any additional weight let alone buildings, grandstands, and stadium lights.

After an additional 100 borings, the thickness of peat was shown to vary anywhere from zero to 17-feet thick at depths of 1-foot to 4-feet below the existing grade. The varying thicknesses and locations of peat - in addition to existing building foundations - posed an issue of how to construct a facility that wouldn’t have differential settlement. Three general ideas were evaluated by

In Session LaBella Associates |

Fall 2021

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bedrock. A 12-inch structural slab was built over the piles to create a structure on which the track and field could be erected.

The scope encompassed the design of an 8-lane track, synthetic turf field, tennis courts, practice field, and associated infrastructure.

the design team (which included geotechnical engineer Stopen Engineering) to address the complex strata: preloading the site for a period of time to allow the peat to compress to a final thickness that would limit the additional degradation over time, use of lightweight structural material (such as geofoam) that would limit the additional pressure fill would put on the peat material, and lastly a structural slab supported by piles that would support the surface features and extend through the peat to stable native material. Each option was weighed for cost, timeline, and long term stability. With all factors considered, the conclusion was to install a structural slab supported on timber piles.

Charging forward with design direction meant designing a slab that would tolerate minimal settlement to meet the NFHS, IAAF, and NCAA standards of post construction ground movement less than 1/8-inch per 10 feet for the track and ¼-inch per 10-feet for the track over the lifetime of the facility. This meant collaboration with our structural team as well as the geotechnical engineer, Stopen Engineering. The design incorporates 1,368 timber piles driven to reach to non-expansive soil/

Drainage needed to be addressed with the construction of the track and field as the slab created a “bathtub” effect that would trap the stormwater on top of the slab. A traditional herringbone pattern underdrainage system was installed on the surface of the slab. Each section of the underdrain was connected to a collector pipe that was hung below the slab by stainless steel hangers spaced 4-foot on center. Putting the collector pipe below the slab allowed the slab to be installed at a consistent elevation while the collector pipe sloped below to allow for positive drainage to underground storage chambers. Stormwater discharge was managed by the storage chambers, which are half round pipes with open bottoms that act as a pond below grade. In this case, the chambers were lined with an impervious barrier that would keep the stormwater from encountering and influencing the peat. An additional unique construction detail is the trench drain cast into the concrete slab. A form was used to depress the slab to allow for the trench drain to be pinned.

The design and construction teams were focused on delivering the best possible facility for the Fowler athletic teams, but in doing so we

Hear directly from Fowler’s Administration, Coaches, StudentAthletes and Owner’s Engineer in a video case study by scanning the QR code above. displayed some pretty inspiring teamwork ourselves. We came together to try something new, work in collaboration with each other and provide a facility to a community that deserved better than they had. The City of Syracuse, Onondaga County, the entire City of Syracuse City School District administration team, Turner Construction, C&S, and Stopen Engineering, in conjunction with the LaBella team built the “greatest show under turf”. It shows that the power of partnership not only happens within LaBella but weaves its way through each project that is constructed.

We design facilities that embrace challenges and serve communities.

After 12 years, The Public Service Leadership Academy at Fowler got to experience a home game…and won!

Significant structural, geotechnical, and site engineering went into constructing a sound and stable foundation for all design components.

Webster CSD Webster Central School District Schroeder High School’s softball, baseball, and track and field complex wrapped up construction in Fall 2021. The new turf softball, baseball & multipurpose fields include sports lighting that allows the District to use the fields later into the season. The cinder track was replaced with a rubber track and a new, multipurpose grass field with bleachers and a press box gives the District multiple locations on campus for major events. The District is also adding additional flexible sports facilities at Thomas High School.

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