The celebration of the completion of the project when the students were presented with letters of recommendation and certificates. Fom left to right: Daniel Richardson, Winston Bunn, Spencer Panek, Luciana Burdi, Rafaella Schroeder, Gabriella Schroeder, and Ruth Townsend
As the new Caryl Community Center prepares to open its doors, a special group of students is marking the completion of not just a building—but a one-of-a-kind educational experience.
Over the past two years, these students participated in a program called the Community Center Club, created by Luciana Burdi and Ruth Townsend (parents and residents) to offer a real-world introduction to STEAM fields—Science, Technology, Engineering, Architecture, and Math—through the lens of a local civic redevelopment project.
The Club invited middle and high-school students to follow the project step by step, guided by professionals from architecture, engineering, project management, and construction. Often overlooked in traditional STEAM programs, construction was given special focus—not only as a vital discipline in its own right, but as the force that brings all other planning and design elements into reality.
The students explored topics such as the history of the Caryl building and its role in the community; the public approval process and citizen engagement; architecture and interior design; environmental and civil engineering; structural and electrical engineering; landscaping and site planning; safety in construction; design and construction procurement; construction administration and project management.
Through site visits, presentations, and hands-on workshops, students gained insight into the technical, regulatory, and creative forces that shape the built environment—and began to see professional paths they may not have considered before.
As the project neared completion, over 2 dates in July, Club members proudly led their families on guided tours of the new building, pointing out features they watched develop and describing the work that made it possible.
On opening weekend, they’ll offer the same tours to the broader community, sharing their firsthand perspective on both the space and the process behind it.
The Community Center will officially open during Dover Days on Saturday, September 13th, kicking off a week of celebration, programming, and public tours. More details will be announced soon by the Town of Dover.
