New House Provides Training Opportunities for Several PTC Programs

The building construction technology program at Piedmont Technical College is near completion for its fourth house project and it has truly become the “house that PTC built.”

The three bedroom/two bath house in the Kirksey Forest development is smaller than the past project houses to accommodate a smaller lot and was constructed by the students in the BCT program at PTC. The current project house is now complete with the exception of the carpeting and linoleum flooring.

But, it is not the only program involved in the completion of the project. The students in the heating, ventilation and air conditioning technology program also used the house as a class project as they coordinated the installation of the heating and cooling units. Students in the horticulture program installed an irrigation system and provided the landscaping for the property.

“Hands-on learning is best,” said Aaron Wood, program coordinator for horticulture. “You can explain theory, but until you put it in practice, it’s just theory. You encounter obstacles in the field that are hard to understand in the classroom, but you get in the field and you have to figure out how to overcome those obstacles to put that theory into practice.”

Horticulture students toured the construction site and developed the landscaping plan. They worked on ordering materials and planning on installation.

“We worked with them on planning and organizing, which are such a big part of completing a job efficiently,” said Wood. “It was good for them to see the job through to completion.”

For the BCT students, it takes nearly two years to complete this project. It is a teaching tool and the students rotate between the classroom and the construction of the house. Each day is different and is based on what the class is studying. The students get hands on training from concept to completion of building a house. From blueprints to estimating building costs to carpentry, they are engaged in all aspects of construction.

“We are not a construction company, so we are not out there every day,” said Bobby Roche, instructor/coordinator for the BCT program. “Our purpose is to teach these students every aspect of the construction business and the hands-on aspect is a vital re-enforcement of what we teach in the classroom.”

The house is currently on the market and represented by Susan Long Realty. The asking price is $108,000 and already has generated interest. When the house is sold, the proceeds are divided three ways. The PTC Foundation will recover money for expenses; funds will go to the BCT program for expenses; and a third to provide scholarships for students in BCT. This is the twelfth year the program has been involved with a building project.

“This is definitely the house that PTC built and is the result of the culmination of months of hard work, planning and dreaming,” said Roche. “When students graduate from PTC in building construction, you can be assured that the experience they have received sets them apart when looking for a job.”

For more information on the BCT program, contact Roche at (864) 941-8465 or roche.b@ptc.edu. For more information on the horticulture program, contact Wood at (864) 941-8671 or wood.a@ptc.edu. If you are interested in touring the house or would like more information, contact Susan Long of Susan Long Realty at (864) 992-8987 or susan@SusanLongRealty.com.

Photo Caption: Students in the building construction technology program at Piedmont Technical College are near completion of their fourth project house. The students in the heating, ventilation and air conditioning technology program also used the house as a class project as they coordinated the installation of the heating and cooling units. Students in the horticulture program installed an irrigation system and provided the landscaping for the property. Pictured, horticulture program coordinator Aaron Wood, center, instructs students on laying the sod for the new house.