According to Jack Jones, chair of the Building Trades Department, the lot for House 55 was cleared during the spring, and the groundbreaking on the foundation took place once classes began this fall. Once completed, the 1,800-square-foot residence will include three bedrooms, two bathrooms, an open-concept floor plan, a large master suite, outdoor living space, and a full basement.
The project involves the efforts of students in numerous programs, including building trades: building construction; masonry; heavy equipment operations; heating, ventilation, and air conditioning; and electrical construction and maintenance electrician.
As for the work that has been completed so far, Jones said the foundation has been built and the walls and roof have been framed.
“We are really just getting started. We have three-plus semesters of work left,” he said, noting that the project is expected to be completed in the spring of 2019.
The houses Alfred State students regularly build for the Wellsville community, valued at more than $200,000, take two years to complete and are then subsequently sold on the open market and occupied.
Students build and detail the houses in a subdivision owned by the Educational Foundation of Alfred, Inc., a private foundation dedicated to improving the Alfred State community through the support of educational programs. The Educational Foundation funds the construction of the houses.
Under the supervision of their instructors, tomorrow's craftspeople prove themselves by building for discerning homeowners. For students, it's an unmatched opportunity to put their learning into practice and gain real-world experience.
“This is as real as it gets in an educational environment,” Jones said. “Students are experiencing what it means to work through challenges posed by working in real-world situations. Obstacles, which have included poor weather and delays in getting electricity on site, have been fielded and overcome throughout the project. This is consistent with what you would normally encounter in the industry. The students and faculty have persevered, however, and come out on top with this project.”
Speaking about everyone involved in the project, Jones said, “They have had to work interdepartmentally and across trades to keep things moving forward. I’m really proud of what they have accomplished so far.”
