Plans, calculations, and technical drawings are important parts of a civil engineering internship experience. But seeing how those details come together on an active construction site can provide a different level of understanding.
On July 9th, WithersRavenel interns visited the future Broadmoor community in Rolesville, North Carolina, to learn more about the process of moving a residential development from early planning through construction and completion.
The tour was led by Kyle Vaughan, Residential Development Project Manager; Terrance Cook, Project Engineer for Residential Development; and John Keith, Residential Development Designer. Together, they helped interns connect the work completed in the office with the activity, coordination, and problem-solving taking place in the field.
Seeing the Development Process Up Close
Broadmoor is an active construction site that is anticipated to bring more than 200 new homes to the growing Town of Rolesville. The Pulte Homes community is scheduled for completion in early 2027.
Because the site remains under construction, interns were able to see different stages of the development process in progress. The tour introduced them to site grading, utilities, erosion control, stormwater infrastructure, construction sequencing, and other improvements needed before homes can be built.
It also gave interns the opportunity to ask questions about how engineers and designers interpret plans in the field, communicate with contractors and project partners, respond to changing conditions, and help keep construction moving forward.
“Getting interns into the field gives them a better understanding of how the work they see in plans and drawings is applied during construction,” Vaughan said. “They can see how different disciplines and project partners work together, ask questions in real time, and begin building the practical knowledge that will help them throughout their careers.”
Connecting Plans to Real-World Conditions
Before a residential community reaches the construction phase, teams must evaluate the property, study existing conditions, develop plans, coordinate approvals, and design the infrastructure that will support the site.
The Broadmoor site visit provided interns with a real-world example of how those early decisions influence what happens during construction. Features that may first appear as lines, symbols, or notes on a plan become roads, utilities, drainage systems, stormwater measures, and prepared lots in the field.
The visit also demonstrated that development is rarely the work of a single discipline. Engineers, designers, surveyors, environmental professionals, landscape architects, contractors, developers, and local government representatives may all contribute at different stages of a project.
For interns who are still exploring career paths, seeing those connections can help them better understand where their interests and skills may fit within the broader development process.
Learning Beyond the Office
Site visits are one way WithersRavenel’s internship program gives students exposure to the practical side of their future professions.
In addition to contributing to real projects, interns can participate in mentoring, lunch-and-learn sessions, networking opportunities, professional development activities, social events, and field experiences. These opportunities help interns build technical knowledge while also developing communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills.
The Broadmoor tour gave interns a chance to learn directly from experienced professionals and see how decisions made during planning and design affect construction in the field.
More importantly, it gave them additional context for the work they are completing today and the careers they may pursue after graduation.
Discover an Internship with WithersRavenel
WithersRavenel internships give aspiring professionals opportunities to contribute to meaningful work, learn from experienced employee-owners, explore multiple disciplines, and see projects take shape beyond the office.
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