Summary
The Haverford School, an esteemed all-boys college preparatory day school, has significantly improved safety and compliance through its partnership with Sciens Building Solutions. This collaboration has enhanced the school’s operational efficiency, compliance, and budgeting foresight.
- Increased Efficiency: Reduced vendor redundancy and streamlined maintenance and inspections
- Budget Optimization: Developed a phased approach to system upgrades, preventing unplanned expenses
- Enhanced Safety: Prevented potential incidents through proactive maintenance and system upgrades
About The Haverford School
The Haverford School is an all-boys private school that was founded in 1884 in Haverford, Pennsylvania. Serving students from pre-kindergarten through grade 12, the school is committed to providing a safe and conducive learning environment. The facilities team maintains the school’s grounds and buildings to the highest standards.
Challenges
Before partnering with Sciens, The Haverford School faced several challenges in managing its fire safety systems. Using multiple vendors led to inefficiencies and inconsistencies, particularly on maintenance calls and annual inspections. The school needed a reliable, all-in-one partner to streamline these services and ensure compliance with safety regulations.
We spoke with Jeff Wilkinson, The Haverford School’s General Manager of Facilities. Wilkinson inherited the relationship with Sciens Building Solutions, but he quickly recognized the benefits of Sciens’ comprehensive service offerings.
A Partner for Strategic Planning
Sciens has been instrumental in transforming fire safety management at The Haverford School. Initially selected to maintain the fire alarm system, the company’s responsive, capable service earned additional business overseeing fire sprinklers and fire extinguisher maintenance, becoming the school’s trusted one-stop shop for all fire suppression needs.
“Previously, Haverford used a small ‘mom-and-pop shop’ for fire extinguishers. The turnaround times to get replacements were too long. Sciens technicians have parts on their trucks, so I don’t have to worry about scheduling multiple visits to resolve an issue.” – Jeff Wilkinson, The Haverford School’s General Manager of Facilities
One of the most significant projects has been upgrading the fire panel systems. Sciens identified that the existing fire panels were becoming obsolete, with the manufacturer discontinuing parts. This posed a potential risk to the school’s safety and budget planning.
Sciens worked closely with Wilkinson to develop a strategic plan for upgrading the fire panels. Understanding the financial constraints, Sciens proposed a phased approach. They recommended starting with two of the most critical buildings and using parts from these upgrades as spares for the remaining buildings. This foresight allowed the school to spread the costs over several years and avoid sudden, unbudgeted expenses.
Sciens’ proactive communication and detailed planning ensured that The Haverford School remained compliant with safety regulations without introducing risk to the students and faculty and being mindful of necessary budgetary requirements. This project highlighted Sciens’ role as a trusted advisor and partner, helping the school foresee challenges and prepare accordingly.
“Sciens is one of my preferred vendors. Communication, professionalism, and consistency are the attributes that I value most in my best vendors, and Sciens checks all of those boxes.” – Jeff Wilkinson, The Haverford School’s General Manager of Facilities
Outcomes
By consolidating its fire safety services with Sciens, the Haverford School has achieved improved efficiency and cost savings. This has streamlined operations, saved money in the annual budget, and ensured that all fire safety systems are reliably inspected and maintained, contributing to a secure environment for the school community.
Sciens’ expert technicians and responsive service have been critical in maintaining the safety and compliance of The Haverford School’s facilities. By providing consistent and knowledgeable crews, Sciens has ensured that all fire safety systems are reliably inspected and maintained, contributing to a secure environment for the school community.
“Sciens consistently sends the same techs who are familiar with the campus,” Wilkinson said. “We get to know the team members by first name and develop a relationship with them, which adds to the trust factor.”
Sciens has helped The Haverford School stay ahead of compliance requirements and safety standards. Their proactive approach has allowed for strategic planning and ensured uninterrupted safety measures, ultimately safeguarding the students and staff.