PA High School to Undertake 24M in Accessibility Upgrades to Sports Fields

  • By Dian Schaffhauser
  • 03/29/21

After four years of discussions and stakeholder input, a high school in Pennsylvania is undertaking a $24.4 million project to improve its accessibility. Radnor High School, part of Radnor Township School District, recently received board approval to begin its "accessibility and wellness infrastructure project." The money will come from a capital reserve fund.

The investment in inclusive design will cover upgrades to outdated and inaccessible facilities at two sports fields, including new bleachers and seating on both fields, new walkways/ramps and an adequately-sized concession stand/field house between the fields, as well as to the RHS pool area, fitness room and locker rooms/bathrooms, among other areas.

Radnor High School Accessibility Upgrades

The high school has an enrollment of 1,229, of which nearly 8 in 10 students use the facilities as athletes and members of the marching band and color guard. The fields are also used by the community, including soccer, track & field and lacrosse clubs, as well as summer camps and other groups.

The principles of inclusive design call for solutions that emphasize such user qualities as:

  • Equity
  • Flexibility
  • Simplicity and intuition
  • Low physical effort

Groundbreaking is expected to take place in April, and completion is scheduled for fall 2022.

"What we're seeing [with this project] is truly the vision and voice of so many that have come together to represent the needs of our entire community," said Principal PT Kevgas in a statement. "The beauty of this project is that it really aligns perfectly with two of our district initiatives: our wellness initiative; and our diversity, equity and inclusion initiative."

"This project is about awareness, empathy, inclusion and excellence," added Radnor parent Tim Henkel, who served as a member of the project's steering committee. "It is a reflection of what we experience now at the RHS facility and what we imagine ourselves to be. The improvements that have been designed and budgeted are all necessary for Radnor to become a welcoming, inclusive, safe environment to all its students and visitors."

To help the project gain acceptance, the project's design firm, Breslin Architects, developed an animated schematic to show what the improved campus would look like.

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • PNSI Global Alliance Launches New Quality Assurance Certification

    PNSI Global Alliance, a network of technology integrators and service providers, recently introduced a new Quality Assurance Certification (QAC) for AV service and support, according to a press release. The two-day, interactive workshop QAC course is designed for Certified Solution Providers (CSPs) to provide them with the most up-to-date and advanced quality assurance knowledge available.

  • Springfield Breaks Ground on $53.7M Pipkin Middle School Rebuild

    Construction is underway on a new, state-of-the-art Pipkin Middle School in Springfield, Mo., a major step in Springfield Public Schools’ (SPS) long-term facility improvement plan, according to local news. The $53.7-million project officially broke ground in early June, following years of planning and community input aimed at modernizing aging infrastructure and addressing student capacity concerns.

  • Texas District Breaks Ground on New Elementary School

    The Splendora Independent School District (SISD) in Splendora, Texas, recently broke ground on a replacement facility for Greenleaf Elementary School, according to a news release. The district partnered with planning, engineering and program management firm Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, Inc. (LAN) for the project.

  • Designing Learning Spaces that Support Student Mental Health and Wellness

    In today’s education landscape, schools are more than just centers for learning; they are integral to the holistic development and well-being of students. The global pandemic underscored the importance of addressing mental health in schools, as productivity dropped, stress levels rose and students faced challenges managing emotions.

Digital Edition