Construction students engage in hands-on learning to build a home in Sandy

CTEC program offers real-world experience

Julie Slama
The City Journals

When Alta High senior River Hamilton realized the competition in the interior design career field, she decided to leave behind fabric swatches and instead, pick up a hammer.

“Instead of interior design, I decided I’d learn about houses and go from there,” she said. “This is fun, and I get to use materials instead of looking at them or doing book work.”

Hamilton is part of the crew that recently finished a 1,900-square-foot home at 142 Cottage Ave. in Sandy. The home, sitting on 0.14 acres, has been constructed by about 65 Canyons Technical Education Center students under two different instructors during the past three years.

“We just finished it up, built some shelves and lockers. We painted a lot and put in some electrical in the kitchen,” Hamilton said. “The framing was already done. It’s a unique design. When you walk in, you’re expecting the living room, but instead it’s the kitchen. I like the openness.”

The home, which has three bedrooms, two full baths, a second-story loft and a full unfinished basement, has custom closets and is for sale for $468,000. Those interested can email CTECHouse@canyonsdistrict.org for a tour.

While this lot and two others were donated by Sandy City to CTEC for homes, Canyons Career and Technical Education Director Janet Goble said the funds from the homes’ sales go back to the construction program.

“It’s a perpetual program,” explained Doug Hallenbeck, CTEC principal. “The sale of the home helps with the construction of the next home.”

Hamilton said not only has she learned skills which helped her with this home, but they will benefit her for life.

“The class is fun. You get to learn how to do everything because it’s hands-on. I’m learning how to build the house, but also, I can use the skills to fix a house. When I get my own house and something breaks, I won’t need to pay $5,000 to fix it. I can do it myself,” she said.

Construction management instructor Nathan Hampton worked alongside the students, who put in half of a school day as they finished the project house.

“The home was started in December 2021; we’ve had a change of teachers, had to finish getting permits and had to deal with COVID delays and expenses,” he said. “The excavators were insanely expensive, and you couldn’t even get one. Framing materials quadrupled and trusses were delayed. We redesigned the roof and even those materials were delayed so we waited to finish framing the roof.”

Even with altering the plans and delays with construction, Hampton is pleased with the outcome.

“It’s a nice house and has a bit of a yard. My favorite part is the upstairs loft; it’s really nice and was a benefit of stick framing the roof that wasn’t part of the original plans,” he said.

Hampton, who was CTEC’s teacher of the year in 2023, said students earn eight credits per year through concurrent enrollment with Salt Lake Community College.

“A lot of them earn scholarships or have the skills to work in construction jobs to pay their way through college,” he said.

The next home will also be on part of the land donated by Sandy City as part of its redevelopment district.

“I’ve got plans for the next house and have the documents we need for a permit,” he said. “I’m planning to get plans to the interior design teachers in the district and see what we can do together so we will be ready when the time happens.”

CTEC already built an initial home on Monroe Street about five years ago.