Caryl Community Center
Renovation and Expansion

Fennick McCredie was tasked with Programming, Concept Design, and Schematic Design for potential alternatives to either replace or modify the existing Caryl Center, formerly an elementary school. The town of Dover sought a structured and inclusive public process to develop a solution that would gain a successful vote at the Town Meeting. Through leading a series of virtual public meetings, the team achieved a higher level of public engagement compared to pre-COVID times.

Collaborating with the Building Committee, Fennick McCredie utilized the CBA (Collaborative Building Approach) process from Lean Construction to evaluate alternatives in a transparent and unbiased manner. Following the programming meeting, a public survey was conducted, resulting in an 81% vote in favor of the option recommended by the Building Committee. This marked a significant milestone after 20 years of previous studies that failed to reach public consensus.

With the project approved, the Caryl Community Center’s renovation and addition spanned 20,000 SF. It included renovating the original 1910 Caryl Elementary School building to accommodate the Dover Council on Aging (COA) and flexible activity spaces. A new pavilion was constructed to the east, featuring a kitchen, café, and community room. A small recreation court measuring 3,600 SF was added to the south as well as Dover Parks and Recreation office space. A central gathering area was created through the lobby/welcome area, connecting these various functions together.