Brochure - New Horizon Academy

Brings in a

NEW ERA of school building P R O J E C T PA R T N E R S CREATE + SOLVE + ADVISE

• Architecture and Development Planning

HOLISTIC BUILDING with COMMUNITY IN MIND Alan Ruth, Vice President of Facilities & Construction at New Horizon Academy, discusses the company’s growth across the US and how it continues to develop sustainable, economical and community focussed schools

“Working at New Horizon Academy, where children have a safe place to grow and learn, I’m doing something that matters and will have a long-term impact on the community” — Brian Stuelpner, VP of Strategy, Planning & Architecture

“Working at New Horizon Academy, where

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maintenance, IT and the compa-

children have a safe place to grow and learn,

ny’s 100-plus fleet. “They needed

I’m doing something that matters and will

someone to head up that national

have a long-term impact on the community.”

presence and help grow the

For Alan Ruth, Vice President of Facilities &

brand across the US. I have many

Construction, New Horizon Academy is more

different department heads who

than just a developer – it works to nurture the

report to me, and I set them up for

children and communities of the future.

the future. I started working with

The family-owned Minnesota business was

key decision-makers for the com-

founded by elementary school teacher Sue

pany, inside and out, seeing what

Dunkley who recognised the need for children

our goals were and putting all

to learn in a nurturing environment. The com-

departments on track to achieve

pany is now led by her son, CEO Chad

those goals.” He also oversees

Dunkley, who was one of the first students at a

day-to-day facilities manage-

New Horizon Academy. Since 1971, New Hori-

ment: “At all times, we’re

zon Academy has expanded across the US to

negotiating long- term contracts,

design and build bespoke, holistic school

for all services, which include:

buildings and is still growing, with 75 schools

energy, lawn care, snow removal,

in its portfolio and 12 under development.

cleaning and repairs.”

Ruth joined the business in 2014 and has brought many elements of the business

FOCUS ON LEARNING

together, overseeing a variety of departments

“Our buildings are designed

like construction/development, purchasing,

around the students,” Ruth

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Alan Ruth has 25 years + in the Development, Construction & Facilities field with many companies including: Ryan Companies, Bally Total Fitness, Abercrombie & Fitch, CKE Restaurants, & Emerald & Diamond Foods

emphasises, adding that CEO Chad Dunkley

it’s all put into the plan of how the

works with state and federal government as

building should look and feel. We

well as the University of Minnesota, Harvard

build and install things with a set

University, Yale and many others, to ensure

of eyes of a child. Everything we

the business is focused on child development.

look at is specific for the clientele,

“We find the right environment for the chil-

such as the design of doors in our

dren from the way we build the buildings to

classrooms with finger guards so

size, classrooms, ergonomics, you name it…

no child’s fingers get pinched.” w w w. n e w h o r i z o n a c a d e m y. c o m

Caring Beyond the Classroom

06 STRATEGIC COLLABORATION

strategic savings by bringing pur-

Designing bespoke schools requires collabo-

chasing together under one roof,

ration to promote synergy. “Every project has

so to speak. “Over time, we’ve

something that creeps up so it’s about being

started to buy materials our-

ready with every team member prepared to

selves. By going straight to the

respond,” Ruth explains. “Not just internally

manufacturers, we can reduce

but externally, from ownership to people run-

costs, avoid mark-ups and basi-

ning the schools, building them and supplying

cally become our own supply

material. We’re all on the same page.” It’s also

chain. Over time, instead of get-

important that management empowers staff

ting more expensive with inflation,

to take ownership and work toward common

our buildings have slowly gone

goals. “They’re really behind the direction

down in cost because we con-

we’ve taken the different departments. I’m

tinue to buy more directly. That’s

very fortunate to have the backing of not just

why I ended up taking purchasing

the owners but my team members.”

over, to put us in the position to

In addition, Ruth has been able to make

do more of this in the future.”

TECHNOLOGY TRANSFORMATION

A key ingredient for holistic building development? “Technology has of course been our friend,” says Ruth. “Each of my departments has specific software to keep projects on schedule and at cost. We send out reports weekly or monthly to share with ownership and other departments, so we have a good handle on where we’re going. Technology has done a wonderful thing for us – we have better control.” Ruth has also found that a level of independence is healthy, ensuring employees have the freedom to explore more digital initiatives. “I leave it with each department head to present me with what they feel is the best software for their department and why.”

BIM (building information modelling) software is also used, with the company’s architect having upgraded from CAD to Revit, which shows preliminary design in 3D, virtual

“ Part of the education is building efficient buildings to teach responsibility for future generations” — Brian Stuelpner, VP of Strategy, Planning & Architecture

reality model. “Back in the day, if I showed blueprints to people who weren’t in the trade, it was hard for them to see what a room would really look like. With this new software, you can put a 3D model on a screen and walk

to Ruth. “Technology is going to

through the building, inside and out. It helps

change the way we build and

the group move ahead because there are less

make our buildings more efficient.

change orders. People can question things at

We’re going to get a better

an early stage. There’s a clearer understand-

product, and we’ll be able to

ing throughout the process.”

enjoy even greater time and

Transformation is set to continue, according

cost savings.” w w w. n e w h o r i z o n a c a d e m y. c o m

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75

Number of schools developed by New Horizon

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12

Number of projects currently under development

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w w w. n e w h o r i z o n a c a d e m y. c o m

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Quality

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1971 Year founded

Lighting is not just a sustainability factor but helps child development too. “There has been a lot of research on colour tuning, natural and unnatural, colours and hues, what’s best for certain activities or how different colours and ray beams help development and growth in each room.”

Classroom design varies across age ranges, but always keeps functionality in mind. In particular, it’s important to have

A SUSTAINABLE, HOLISTIC FUTURE

indoor play areas with enough

As it implements the latest technology, New

room for activities if students

Horizon Academy is seeing its buildings

can’t go outside. Even the exterior

become even greener through a sustainability

play areas are designed where

focus, from implementing skylights which

children can venture out for work

make the most of natural light, to water-saving

and play. “One of our partners,

sinks and lighting control systems, as well as

Cre8play, is a national provider

using automation to control temperature. “We

based in Minnesota that studies

also work with local utility companies to figure

exterior play areas to understand

out how we can become more efficient with-

age-appropriate playgrounds,”

out taking away from the comfort and

Ruth explains. “Like everything

functionality of the buildings,” Ruth adds.

we do, it’s for fun but also to help

“LED lights have really saved us. With the

children grow and learn. We part-

new lighting control system, we fluctuate how

nered with Cre8play to not just

much light we use to save money, and LED

get a play area you could have at

has a full range of what you can do, from col-

home, but something that means

ours to cycling on and off.”

children can learn as they play.” w w w. n e w h o r i z o n a c a d e m y. c o m

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When You Drop Off We Pick Up

CREATE + SOLVE + ADVISE

• Architecture and Development Planning • Construction Management Consultant, Owners Representation • Zoning Appeals • Expert Service, Construction Disputes and Forensics • Designing and Building Creative Child-Friendly Environments since 1988

Proud to be working with New Horizon Academy.

CONTACT: A. PETER HILGER, AIA

Phone: 612-868-3636

Email: philger@rylaur.com

“We work with local utility companies to figure out how we can become more efficient without taking away from the comfort and functionality of the buildings” — Brian Stuelpner, VP of Strategy, Planning & Architecture

“We use different materials now that meet

future. Its proudest achievement

more of the LEED Certification as we strive to

in Ruth’s book is a flagship center

become LEED certified. We’re using more

in north Minneapolis. “It’s one of

recycled materials that are safe for children

the more impoverished areas, but

like LVT (luxury vinyl tile) flooring. We’re

we built our nicest ever building

becoming wiser with the materials we use,

there for the community to rein-

which sends a good message.” Ruth adds

vest in the children. We’re

that this sustainable focus is important for

basically going into areas others

children to see. “Part of the education is build-

won’t, taking on challenges oth-

ing efficient buildings to teach responsibility

ers won’t and turning around

for future generations such as how to control

projects that the community

lighting.”

loves. That’s what I’m most

That’s just one-way New Horizon Academy

proud of.”

is focused on building communities for the

w w w. n e w h o r i z o n a c a d e m y. c o m

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3405 Annapolis Lane N, Suite 100, Plymouth, MN 55447 T 763-557-1111 www.newhorizonacademy.net