Teens construct their own classroom in Orchard View neighborhood
The community is invited to join Construction Trades students and staff from the Muskegon Area Career Tech Center (MACTC) for an open house at 2497 Chestnut Trail, Wednesday, June 7 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. This home, which will also serve as a classroom for the next several years, is the tenth in the Chestnut Trail neighborhood built by Construction Trades students. Previous years’ homes will be marked by blue yard signs during the event.
This year’s house is approximately 2,700 square feet. The plans were selected to allow space for classrooms, offices, and hands-on training for the construction program until that portion of the neighborhood is complete.
The home, like previous homes, has been built to EnergyStar standards. It features low-flow plumbing, a high efficiency heating and cooling system, spray foam insulation, and has main floor and basement walls constructed with insulated concrete forms for more comfortable, quiet, and energy-efficient living. Other features of the home include metal roofing, nine-foot ceilings on the main floor, solid surface countertops, a fireplace in the great room, three bedrooms (one finished and two unfinished for demonstration), a covered back deck, and a two-stall garage.
Working alongside Construction Trades students were students from the Career Tech Center Electrical/Computer Technologies program. These students assisted with running wires, installing recessed lighting, and wiring electrical and cable outlets. They also worked on the computer, audio, and security systems for the home.
The construction industry in West Michigan is booming! High school students interested in a career in construction may learn more about the program by visiting the Construction Trades page at muskegoncareertech.com.