New Leadership Center Will Engage Girl Scouts in STEM

For girl scouts in Worcester, MA, cookies and STEM exposure now go hand in hand. Bohler recently helped Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts open a $2.5 million Leadership Center.

Our team provided civil engineering and permitting services for the state-of-the-art facility, which will house smart boards, a robotics workplace, 3D printers and computer software to support Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math (STEM) learning.

The Learning Center will provide opportunities for girl scouts to engage in STEM and leadership-building activities, and will also warehouse Girl Scout Cookies during peak cookie season.

In order to bring the Leadership Center to life, Bohler’s design team had to first overcome a significant topographical challenge. A 30-foot grade change across the site made it nearly impossible for site traffic to circulate safely on a steeply sloped driveway, especially large delivery trucks for the cookies.

Bohler devised a creative solution by looking beyond the two-acre site. Our team relocated the site’s access point onto the adjacent lot, which extended the driveway. This prevented driveway slopes from being too steep, while also avoiding congestion with a nearby intersection. The solution improved overall site circulation, including accommodating the large trucks.

As engineers, our team appreciates the center’s impact on both the local community and the STEM industry. The two-story, 7,400 SF center is home to staff/volunteer resources, a store and a museum, but more importantly provides a place for girls to build courage, confidence and character.

Read more about the project here.