Students who spent the last two years constructing a house in the Cannon Bluff community had a chance to show it off Tuesday evening.
About 150 to 175 students worked on the house over the two years, said Frank Taylor, carpentry instructor and project manager.
It was the 30th house built by Frederick County Career and Technology Center students. Along with the instructors and professional builders, the students learned skills in masonry, carpentry, heating and air conditioning, landscaping, plumbing and computer-aided design.
The house, at 2117 Battery Lane, has four bedrooms, multiple bathrooms, a two-car detached garage, gas fireplace, deck and custom maple cabinets.
“It will be finished by the end of June,” Taylor said as he greeted people at the open house. The flooring needs to be installed, along with appliances and a few minor touches.
The house is a John Steinbeck model from Ryan Homes. The lot was bought through Ausherman Development Corp. The house will be listed for sale in a couple of weeks, Taylor said, for $349,400.
The house design is neo-traditional with a porch and is close to the sidewalk.
“The idea of the community is to look like small towns where people interact with each other,” Taylor said.
Anjanette Robinson lives two doors down from the new house.
“I was excited to see the kids working on the house. I wondered each day what they would do next.” Her home is similar in design, she said.
Diane Herndon is the landscaping teacher at CTC and a graduate of CTC as well. She said the close proximity of the houses made the landscaping a challenge.
“We just finished the backyard Monday,” Herndon said.
While most of the design was dictated by the Ryan plan, to conform with other houses in the community, the students did design and build the deck on the back of the house, Taylor said.
“We get great support from businesses, from discounts on materials to labor and help in teaching the students by professionals,” Taylor said. “They (businesses) see it as an investment in the workforce.”
David Hawkins, owner of Hawkins Landscaping, said he has hired about a dozen CTC graduates over the years. The students have the training when they come to work for him, he said.
“Agriculture is still the number one employer in the state, and landscaping is part of that,” Hawkins said. “These students realize it is a good career.”
Roberto Delatorre and Josh Quijano are both in the electrical training program at CTC and were pointing out an overhead fan they had installed.
Delatorre said he and his fellow electrical students did all the wiring in the house.
“I would like to look for a job with an electrical company this summer,” he said.
Both students are to return to CTC in the fall as seniors.
“It is well-managed, and the money goes to the next house,” said Jack Newkirk, assistant principal at CTC. “We have 16 students going to Kansas City at the end of June for the SkillsUSA competition.” The students will compete with other trade students from around the U.S. In the past, CTC students have won top awards in the competition.
The house is designed so that, if the buyer so chooses, the attic space can be used as a large open room, Taylor said.
Pictures of the other 29 houses were on display in the kitchen. Once the house is sold, the search for the next project will begin.