FEFPA Summer Conference

After nearly a decade designing schools at military bases worldwide for the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), the Schenkel Shultz team sought to educate our Florida K12 clients on global best practices in school planning and design.  Led by David Torbert, AIA, Partner, the team explored the Code 3 Design Charette process utilized by DoDEA, in which all critical stakeholders gather over an intense week-long session.  Over the course of five working days, the team works to reach consensus on the schematic design concept, program square footage and appropriate budget.  This disciplined and streamlined process allows the team to reach consensus on critical decisions early in the project, avoiding lock-up of continued evaluation of crucial project elements, and helping the entire team to collectively adhere to the schedule, minimizing costly delays to the project.  As industry leaders, we are compelled by a responsibility to share lessons learned and best practices.  This session at the Florida Educational Facilities Planners’ Association (FEFPA) conference was a perfect example of how we do just that within the Education Design Market.