Our future is building - literally and figuratively! Madeira's new STEAM Academic Center is progressing on time and on budget. And new program possibilities are being constructed along with it.
Forward Thinking Procurement
Completing any construction project during this time of supply chain issues, raw material shortages, and long lead times is difficult. Madeira has been fortunate to stay ahead of these challenges through early design-build involvement. We partnered with Coakley & Williams Construction during the design stage of our project and were able to leverage that partnership to our advantage in getting ahead of material and labor challenges.
For example, in July 2021 we began early procurement of long lead time items, such as our structural steel, roofing, mechanical units, and elevators. Some of these items had lead times as long as 30 weeks. We made early buys on a significant amount of our materials, which not only ensured we were able to get our materials on time even with long lead times, but also helped us get favorable pricing in the rising materials market. Similarly, we locked in our sub-contractors early on in the design process.
What Is Design-Build?
Rather than work with multiple parties (i.e. architect, engineers, construction team) throughout the planning and construction process, “Design-Build” is an efficient method of project delivery where the owner manages a single contract with a single point of contact to provide design and construction services. The construction partner can achieve greater efficiency by assuming the responsibility and risk of delivering the project.
STEAM Program Development
As foundations have been poured and steel structures erected, we have simultaneously been evaluating and evolving the curriculum to leverage the tools presented within the new building. Dean of Teaching and Learning Lucy Pollard shares, “We are in the process of reviewing our Math and Science courses to ensure they are aligned with our mission and prepare students for careers in the STEAM fields.”
This process will take about a year and has been divided into two steps. In step one, the math and science departments are developing “end goals” by answering the questions:
- What skills and knowledge should a math/science student possess when she leaves Madeira?
- What practices should a math/science teacher use when teaching to best equip students with said skills and knowledge?
Ms. Pollard continues:
To answer these questions, we are creating a portrait of a math/science graduate and a math/science teacher. The second step involves backward planning to determine what courses to teach, what order to teach them, and how to teach those courses to fulfill our portraits.
Construction Lessons in the Classroom
At Madeira, every opportunity is a teaching moment, and we love to bring the real-world into our classrooms. Our Coakley & Williams Construction partners have helped us do just that. They have joined our classes to share what it takes to design and build a building. Bridgett Redding, the assistant project manager for Coakley, enthusiastically shared her expertise with Madeira students and summer campers. As construction was beginning, Ms. Redding shared the process with the Architecture class at Girls First summer camp. Once the school year began, she shared Engineering lessons with our science students.
This article originally appeared in the Winter 2023 issue of Madeira Today. Madeira Today is published for alums, parents, and friends of the School. To read the Winter 2023 issue, click here.
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