Red Iron Magazine

Top 10 Trends In Education Design

We asked industry-leading K-12 architects about current education facility design trends – here are the Top 10 takeaways.

1. Flexibility in all aspects from classrooms and furniture to technology

2. Focus on student-centered collaboration spaces

3. More teachers using outdoor learning destinations

4. Climate, lighting, and connection to outdoors

5. Technology evolving to meet STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) learning

6. Supporting the use of technology from individual devices to immersive technology for presentation and display

7. Adding virtual learning spaces for individuals and groups

8. Making schools more secure without feeling intrusive

9. Utilizing ALL of the facility for learning, including the corridors

10. Micro learning environments that positively impact student behavior

THANK YOU, to the following people and firms
for their contributions to this article:

KKT Architects
Sarah Gould, AIA, A4LE
President & CEO

CGA Architects
Chad Greer, AIA, CPD
Principal Architect

DLR Group
Kevin Greischar, AIA
Principal

Hight Jackson Associates
Michelle McClaflin, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C
Vice President

Huckabee Inc.
Ken Kessler
Principal

Stantec
Brett Holzle, AIA
Principal
John Shriver, AIA, NCARB
Principal I North Texas Market Leader

WRA
Keith Anderson, AIA, NCARB
Principal

Helping Build The Future

There is no better time than now to invest in school infrastructure.

Schools are the building blocks of our communities. They represent the hopes, dreams, and our future. School construction is some of the most rewarding work we do.

We can all agree that students and teachers need a safe, secure place to teach, learn, and grow. As technology evolves, so should our schools and classrooms.

Data shows that school conditions directly impact student attendance and performance. So investing in school infrastructure has benefits that reshape our society and our future.

K-12 SCHOOLS
The best school buildings are more than just physical structures—they provide safe and creative environments where our kids can thrive. When it comes to providing a safe and healthy environment for children, school leadership must consider many factors. Adequate spaces, natural light, well-functioning heating/cooling systems, clean water, and modern technology are just the start. These days public schools are also used as emergency shelters and resource facilities.

PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE
One vital takeaway from the Covid-19 pandemic is the importance of building ventilation. Proper HVAC has been a motivating factor for many school leaders to take action and invest in improving their school’s ventilation systems.

Here are a few other aspects that make up a quality school infrastructure:
A clean and well-organized environment that is conducive to learning
A structurally safe environment for students
State-of-the-art equipment and facilities

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) estimates that only 65% of school districts have assessed their facilities within the past ten years. Planning is essential for long-term facility operations and maintenance.

HOW CAN WE HELP?
Crossland has experience building K-12 facilities and higher education on all scales and sizes. We have worked with over 125 school districts and have constructed over 400 school projects over the last 40 years. Our expert estimators and preconstruction teams help schools perform life-cycle cost analysis to help them plan better and allocate resources.

If you would like us to help provide construction cost for any upcoming school projects, contact us at k12construction@crossland.com. Read our latest edition of the Red Iron Magazine below.

Crossland Purchases Pitsco Education

An unexpected partnership with a lot of potential!

Crossland’s recent purchase of Pitsco, a well-established STEM curriculum-based company in Southeast Kansas, was an unusual pairing to most. However, once you take a deeper look, you’ll see why this sale and purchase made perfect sense for both companies.

Our similarities start from the very beginning. Most of you reading know our story. But to recap: Ivan Crossland, Sr. (our founder), started Crossland Construction out of the family garage in 1977.

Harvey Dean, Pitsco’s founder, started his company in 1971, creating hands-on learning kits in a garage. And, the unexpected connections continue from there. Both founders had an undeniable passion for education. Despite growing up in the Great Depression and dropping out of school at age 13 to work, Ivan Sr. never gave up on bettering himself or meeting his educational aspirations. With eight kids at home and working multiple jobs, he still earned his GED and later his Associates Degree. Ivan’s passion for education is a quality he encouraged in his sons and current company leaders of Crossland Construction. And, over 40 years later, education is still at the heart of our company. We’ve created many in-house educational programs over the years. Here are some you may or may not know about:

The Crossland Academy – a nationally accredited, in-house education program that offers skilled trades certification and training in concrete, heavy equipment operation, ironworking, leadership, and much more

50/50 Apprenticeship Program – our apprenticeship program gives high school students a jump start on a career in construction offering trade programs in carpentry, ironworking, and heavy equipment operation

Internship Program – our internship program gives students majoring in Construction Management or Engineering a hands-on experience and training to supplement their university curriculum

The Crossland Connection – a business to school partnership where we teach the importance of skilled trades to interested students

The purchase of Pitsco was a worthy endeavor for both companies. Together, Crossland and Pitsco will foster the next generation of builders by providing students with the facilities and materials they need to succeed.

There are lots of ideas and plans on the horizon. We can’t wait to see the impact on our industry’s future as we work together to create a well-educated workforce of problem-solvers and leaders.

Bringing The Arts To Life

The new Mustang Performing Arts Center is truly a show stopper. With community in mind, this venue is the perfect spot for music, dance, and theater to thrive!

Mustang, OK – Draw back the curtains, the new Mustang Performing Arts Center is open. With industry-standard systems and state-of-the-art theatre amenities—students will receive the experience and knowledge needed to pursue the arts after high school. The new space represents much more than a school addition, but a performance center that will bring the community together.

A Space Fit for Broadway
The project boasts a massive 67,000 SF space. Inside you are greeted by 40-foot-high ceilings lined with LED lights for a breathtaking entrance. The architectural appeal is showcased throughout the venue. The spacious performance hall seats 1,500 people. The stage is set for an optimal orchestra experience with a motorized pit lift and orchestra shell. In addition to the performance space, the theater room was built with 12-inch thick concrete walls, doubling as a tornado shelter. This shelter provides students, staff, and the community a safe space during the unpredictable Oklahoma weather.

Planning and Communication Saves Millions
We faced typical construction obstacles throughout this project. Still, our team stayed positive and diligent while working through weather setbacks and material delays due to the pandemic. Excellent communication and problem-solving skills were imperative to keep the project on track.

We always strive to find cost savings, especially when working with school districts and taxpayers’ dollars. During the preconstruction phase, we were able to find nearly one million dollars in cost savings. That savings was then added back into the contingency fund for the district to purchase additional equipment for the building.

Keeping Safety a Top Priority
Ensuring the safety of students, staff, and crew is always of upmost importance to the Crossland team. We built and installed hundreds of feet of handrail around the construction site where crews were doing deep pit operations. The team also performed work at substantial heights throughout the project. Safety meetings, proper harness equipment, and making sure crews were tied off were essential. Crossland also hired a licensed scaffolding subcontractor to erect the scaffold in the auditorium area to guarantee worker safety.

“Crossland exhibited excellence in communication, responsibility, problem solving, oversight, and construction as a very capable and willing partner with Mustang Public Schools.” – Jason Pittenger, Assistant Superintendent:Operations, Mustang Public Schools

Red Iron Magazine – Winter 2021 Issue

Check out this issue of our Red Iron Magazine: Winter 2021!

‘Customers for Life’ is a saying you frequently hear throughout our hallways. We believe that you build client loyalty by earning—and keeping— the trust of everyone you work with. My dad, Ivan Sr., instilled this value in my siblings and me from an early age. He taught us that being a straight shooter was vital in business. You never let a dollar get in the way of doing the right thing.

I’ll never forget when my dad landed our first job with a local Fortune 500 company, Leggett & Platt. Thirty-some years ago, we were interviewing for the job, and it became clear that the interview wasn’t going well. But that never hindered my dad. He stood up and told the Director of Construction, Don Laferla, “I’ll tell you what – if you put your faith in us to do this project, first, I’ll do a hell of a job, and second, I’ll take half of what we make (if anything) and invest it in your company.” That turned out to be an offer that Don couldn’t refuse, and we’ve owned L&P stock ever since! We also just recently kicked off the Harry M. Cornell Arts & Entertainment Complex named after Mr. Cornell, Chairman Emeritus, Leggett & Platt, Inc. in Joplin, Missouri. (featured on page 22)

J-M Farms is another one of those life-long partnerships. Back in 1979, my dad worked as a subcontractor when J-M built its original facility. Owner Virgil Jurgensmeyer worked alongside my dad on the project, and the two men became fast friends. Over the years, my parents and the Jurgensmeyers vacationed together, attended family events, and often enjoyed a competitive game of pitch. It wasn’t uncommon for dad and Virgil to come back from dinner and hand us building plans they’d dreamed up, sketched on a napkin. Both of our companies and our friendship has continued to grow over the years. We just had the privilege of wrapping up an addition that will improve both their process and capabilities. (featured on page 14)

Today, I love to see our younger leaders build those same relationships with the next generation of clients, architects, engineers, subcontractors, and everyone we work with. It’s not about being the biggest contractor or the lowest bidder on a project that will keep us growing. It’s having that grit and always finding a way to accomplish our client’s goals and our own. We’re always going to be the partner that people can trust and depend on to do what they say when they say it. My dad set the values and foundation of our company. And, I’m proud to say over 40 years later, we are still representing them well. I want to thank all Crossland employees for their dedication while working through the pandemic. I pray for your families and everyone who has lost a loved one. Hopefully, we will all have somewhat of a normal summer with our friends and families!

God Bless,
Curt Crossland
President – Midwest Region

Red Iron Magazine – Summer 2020 Issue

Check out this issue of our Red Iron Magazine: Summer 2020 Issue!

A Message From Our CEO

The innovative spirit of Americans is what defines this country. It’s what led the Wright Brothers to put the first airplane in the sky and NASA to land the first man on the moon. Also known as the land of dreams and opportunity, it’s a place where ordinary people can achieve extraordinary goals.

To overcome current economic challenges, we are leaning on the same core principles that have carried America forward for centuries. We’re confident that our country – and our company – will emerge from these times even stronger than before.

Our employees’ strength, reliability, and tenacity will continue to carry us through. It’s our ability to adapt and persevere that helped us grow from a small construction company founded out of the family garage, to a top 100 contractor in the nation (#66 in the latest ENR ranking). Through challenges, we will not lose sight of how important our self-perform capabilities are, we will continue to become the best at everything we do, and we will build quality projects that lead to life-long clients.

Here’s to the American spirit and conquering the second half of 2020 – strongly and safely.