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OPINION
Widefield High School Building Trades’ newest home at 8389 Freestar Way received its Certificate of Occupancy last Friday shortly after 2 p.m. Henry Yankowski, Director of the Regional Building Department, hand delivered the Certificate of Occupancy to Dan Vogel, instructor for the Building Trades Classes and a group students who were enjoying burgers and chips while parents, neighbors, tradesmen and school officials admired the finished product. The four bedroom, two and half bath home, with finished basement was complete with several upgrades, including knock down texture, vaulted ceiling upstairs and eight foot ceilings in the basement. Out of consideration for the new owners, the carpet will be installed after the open house. Each year the Building Trades Class builds a home on one of New Generation Homes lots starting at the beginning of school in August and finishing up just before school is out in the spring. The students actually do the hands on, with contractors helping with the excavating and the concrete floor (but not the foundation). The electrical and plumbing contractors work with the students so they get hands on experience at every phase. This year’s house is a stucco with several “Green” features. The foundation and exterior walls are made of Insulating Concrete Forms, a patented product that is stronger than wood frame walls and energy efficient. Radiant floor heat helps keep your toes toasty, the air cleaner, less dry, can save 10 to 40 percent in energy costs. A personal plus for me is that with no air ducts running around the house you can have a flat, uniform 8 foot ceiling in the basement. While I was kidding the students that they built a house and got a free burger out of the deal, they now have the confidence of knowing they have a skill that can be used. They had the satisfaction of building “their” house from the foundation to the last piece of trim. One of the suppliers at the Open House told me he “could get any one of these kids a job tomorrow”. Building may not be the eventual career for the students in the Building Trades Class, but you can bet they will look back on the experience with a sense of fulfillment. My thanks to all the contractors and suppliers who provided support and sponsorship to help the students construct Widefield High School’s Building Trades Class’s annual home. CONTACT THE WRITER • HISEY4CD4@MSN.COM |
