Rainforth Grau Architects

Designer Roger Andrade reached a nice milestone as he recently guided his first project through DSA approval, at Samuel Kennedy Elementary School, home to nearly 1,000 students, in the Elk Grove Unified School District. Under the guidance of senior staff, he coordinated approval for a new shade structure for preschoolers, including: developing plans, reviewing site conditions and ensuring placement was safe and accessible. Shade structures like this greatly expand access to o...utdoor activities during hot months. Roger brings great energy and enthusiasm. He started at RGA as an intern in 2017 while attending Cosumnes River College and continued through his studies at UC Berkeley. He is working toward becoming an architect. One of his favorite things: Going out to the field and getting my hands dirty! Whether it’s field verification, acquiring dimensions, or having to search through old archives to help move a project forward. Way to go Roger!

Thanks to senior Architect Christina Frankel for letting the marketing guy tag along on one of her site walks at Manteca High School. She is at the site on a regular basis, taking detail photographs, and ensuring the quality of the workmanship. On this day C T Brayton & Sons, Inc. was hoisting roof sections onto the structural steel frame of the large gym building. We also met with the Inspector of Record and checked out sheet rock being installed in the 10 new classrooms. Lots going on as this legacy campus is completely transformed. With the Manteca Unified School District proudtobemusd.

This Tuesday Association for Learning Environments (California Chapters) is hosting the second of a two-part event on COVID-19 and the future of education. An impressive group of educational leaders will discuss challenges, lessons and inequities that COVID has revealed, and where we go from here. This will be an informative and valuable event. PART TWOMay 4 SPEAKERS... John Miller, Teacher, King City Public Schools Dr. Joanne Culverhouse, Superintendent, La Habra City SD Michelle Barlow, Facilities Director, Claremont McKenna College Dr. Gordon Amerson, Superintendent, Duarte Unified SD Dr. Lee Heffernan, Literacy Teacher, MCCSC Bruce Duncan, Director of Innovation, Burlingame SD Jessica Morgan, Executive Director, Bullis Charter Chris McNutt, Educator, Global Impact STEM Academy Janet Kliegl, Educational Planner, CFW More info and registration here: https://www.a4le.org//Nor/Northern_California_Nevada.aspx

Project Manager Dwayne Treleven spends a lot of time on site at the new Mangini Ranch Elementary School. He coordinates closely with Kitchell CEM to make sure construction is in alignment with the design documents. Here is a drone video he shot. You can see the EIFS system in various stages of completion, storefront and curtain wall installations, roofing and skylights being installed. At grade level concrete and site work continues. We’re looking forward to wrapping things up for the start of the 2021-22 school year. More to come on this innovative school design that will serve as a prototype facility for the Folsom Cordova Unified School District

The Association for Learning Environments (California Chapters) is hosting an important two-part event on the topic of COVID-19 and the future of education. An impressive group of educational leaders will discuss challenges, lessons and inequities that COVID has revealed, and where we go from here. This will be an informative and valuable event. PART ONEApril 20 | PART TWOMay 4 SPEAKERS... John Miller, Teacher, King City Public Schools Dr. Joanne Culverhouse, Superintendent, La Habra City SD Michelle Barlow, Facilities Director, Claremont McKenna College Dr. Gordon Amerson, Superintendent, Duarte Unified SD Dr. Lee Heffernan, Literacy Teacher, MCCSC Bruce Duncan, Director of Innovation, Burlingame SD Jessica Morgan, Executive Director, Bullis Charter Chris McNutt, Educator, Global Impact STEM Academy Janet Kliegl, Educational Planner, CFW More info and registration here: https://www.a4le.org//Nor/Northern_California_Nevada.aspx

At one point this two-story entry space with wide staircase was just a vision of indoor collaboration. Now there are tons of structural steel anchored to the ground. So many things had to happen just right to get from initial vision to the current state (and eventually to completioncheck out the rendering). It’s good to step back periodically from a detailed and technical process to appreciate the bigger picture. Recently, part of the RGA team toured Mangini Ranch Elementary School to check out the progress that Kitchell Construction has made on the first campus of the new prototype elementary school for the Folsom Cordova Unified School District. Mangini is part of Folsom Ranch, a new community south of highway 50. Stay tuned as we move toward completion in 2021!

It’s a topic on everyone’s mindhow can Outdoor Learning help get us back to in-person classes? An upcoming webinar from our local Association for Learning Environments chapter addresses this timely issue: Turn Your Campus Inside Out! A Safe Return to School with Outdoor Learning. https://www.a4le.org//Nor/Northern_California_Nevada.aspx

This time lapse video captures the ~13-month construction of the new science building and courtyard on the Galt High School campus. With Galt Joint Union High School District and Roebbelen Contracting, Inc.

The first new building at historic Galt High School in more than 20 years, a two-story, 18,000 SF science building, is ready to deliver state-of-the-art instruction. To support multidisciplinary learning, flexible classrooms are visually connected to labs via large windows that allow for supervision. Contemporary, modular furniture and adjustable lab tables adapt to different configurations and arrangements, supporting a variety of program needs. The science building was plan...ned to create a new campus courtyard featuring shade pavilions, a circular natural stone amphitheater and natural landscaping. This space is will support outdoor learning, and be an informal gathering areas for students. The buildings, outdoor spaces and natural landscaping create an experiential place that welcomes students and challenges them to explore. Thanks to Galt Joint Union High School District who we have worked with since 1990 on over 30 projects, large and small. The success of this project (on-time and under budget) was a team effort with Roebbelen Contracting, Inc., Warren Consulting Engineers, Anderson Structural Group, EDGE Electrical Consulting Inc., Capital Engineering Consultants, Inc., MTW Group Landscape Architecture and Benchmark Consulting Services, Ltd.

2020/2021 back-to-school will be remembered forever as a time of challenges and change. The uncertainty and concerns of balancing health, safety and learning are on everyone’s mind. Students, parents, teachers and district leaders everywhere are figuring out how to master distance learning and sustain connections digitally. The immediate need to continue educating students is vital. We are witnessing the challenges our clients are facing, and we understand the inordinate amo...unt of time, coordination, effort and change required. Today’s evolving efforts to deliver meaningful education to students will surely impact the future of program delivery and school facilities. When the dust settles, there will be new methods, new ideas and permanent change. We miss the excitement of the first day back at school and look forward to when campuses are once again filled with the bustle and energy of school life. And we applaud all educators’ efforts to provide support, connection and learning to students wherever they are and in whatever form it takes!

Construction is nearing completion on Glen Edwards Middle School in Placer County. The campus was completely re-imagined, including design of a contemporary two-story building featuring science, media and broadcast classrooms, a state-of-the-art gym/ music/band space, and two large campus quads. This project totals 75,000 square feet of combined new construction and modernization, including significant site work to integrate existing buildings. Big thanks to our collaborators and partners: the staff at GEMS, the Western Placer Unified School District and Landmark Construction!

It’s great to see Clark/Sullivan Construction and UBC wrapping this project up for Chico USD!

It’s great to see this new school starting to go vertical!

Today was the official groundbreaking for Folsom Cordova Unified School District's newest elementary school - Mangini Ranch Elementary School. RGA is committed to serving this community and we are so excited to see construction begin! The new, two-story elementary school is slotted to open for the 2021-22 school year, and will serve over 650 students ranging from grades K-5th. The campus will feature innovative technology and designated collaborative spaces for students. M...ore info --> https://www.sacbee.com//lo/education/article240169188.html https://rainforthgrau.com//mangini-ranch-elementary-school/ #educationalarchitecture #schools #folsomcordova #impactingeducation #throughdesign

It's our birthday today! We are so grateful to all of our clients, consultants, and communities who have worked with us over the past 35 years, and we are excited to take these strong relationships with us into the future. Continuing to focus on our core vision: impacting education through design. The biggest gratitude, however, is reserved for our staff - the ones who have made RGA the company it is today. We truly wouldn't be where we are without all of the individual contributions. Cheers to next 35 years!

Folsom High School's new CTE building is underway! We get a little extra excited to design hands-on, career training spaces for engineering and design students. #impactingeducation #throughdesign

Feeling so excited and SO official with our exterior signage installed! A huge thank you to Weidner CA for your amazing work - we couldn’t be happier with the end result. And now people know who we are!

Thank you Flint Builders, Inc. for sharing this video, capturing the topping off of the new Auxiliary Gymnasium at Roseville High School. Excited to watch the construction progress! #k12architecture #construction #impactingeducation #throughdesign Roseville Joint Union High School District Degenkolb Engineers