By Patrick Tepoorten

There will soon be a brand new house for sale in North Branch. The house, a 1,129-square-foot split entry with an attached garage, is not the most unique in the city, but the construction crew may very well be.

Primarily composed of seniors from North Branch high school, with a few juniors thrown in, this young crew is the labor force for almost every aspect of construction, from pouring the foundation to installing the fixtures.

Their work is supervised by teacher Ralph Norrgard every step of the way, and is subject to the same inspection rigors as any house built by professional tradesmen. Master craftsmen are brought in from the applicable trades to assist and to teach students how systems are installed properly and efficiently. Their presence also insures that every aspect of the house is constructed to the standards put forth by the city.

The house is part of a long-standing partnership between the city and the school district. The city reviews all of the plans and answers any questions regarding matters of building code. They also postpone payment of necessary fees, such as those for inspection, water and sewer hook-up, and permits, until the house is sold.

City building official Rich Meyer noted that even the permit and inspection process can become a learning process. ìI think its a good program,î he added, ìEven if you donít go into the trades, at least you have an idea how a house is built.

With the help of Edina Realty, the high school identifies and purchases an appropriate lot within the city. Plans for a home that fits well with its surroundings are purchased from Dave Erickson Designers in Cambridge. Much of the materials are purchased locally at Lamperts. ìWe like to purchase locally whenever we can,î said Norrgard.

According to Norrgard, this is the 11th such house that students have built on site over the years. Once complete the home will be sold as a multiple listing, and the proceeds from the sale will finance the next such project.

The advantages for students who take part in the projects are two-fold, according to Norrgard. ìEveryone is going to live in a house of some kind,î he said, and the projects give students the knowledge to make their own repairs in the future.

Also, the construction projects give students who might be considering a career in the trades on the job experience in a variety of trades. When these students graduate they will have a better understanding of the individual skills needed for a construction project. They will also be far better prepared to determine what skill-set appeals to them personally.

Top of Page

©ECM Post Review

6448 Main Street
North Branch, MN 55056
Telephone: 651-674-7025
Fax: 651-674-7026
E-mail: editor.postreview@ecm-inc.com