As reported in the Calgary Herald, few high school students can say they helped construct someone’s home. The pride from that unique experience was on display during the unveiling of the latest home built through a long-term partnership between Homes by Avi and Jack James High School.

Earlier this month, students who participated in this year’s build got the chance to tour the completed home, which now sits on a corner lot in the southeast community of Walden.

“Everyone is just kind of stunned and in awe of what we got to do,” says Riley King, one of the Grade 12 students who participated in the program.

“Everyone is going around saying I remember doing this and this,” he adds. “It gives you a sense of pride and confidence just to be able to say I did this.”

This year’s home — the 21st through the program — is the builder’s 1,624-square-foot Brody model, priced at $405,900. At press time, it was conditionally sold. Proceeds from the house go back to the program at Jack James, says the builder.

“Our involvement is two-fold: the students are shown a glimpse into a great industry while they gain valuable experience that can open new doors to them, and for us, we’re training and attracting the next generation of trades to join the industry,” says Kim Trim, Homes by Avi’s marketing and communications specialist.

“Jack James has amazing staff that have set up and maintained this program,” she adds. “We’re lucky enough to spend time in their shop, teaching and guiding the students through the build process alongside their construction teacher, before the home’s main floor is transported from the school to our site, where the home is assembled and finished by our trades.”

Led by teacher Mike Coleman, students helped build the home in the construction bay at Jack James High School. Due to considerations around transporting the home, their work was exclusive to the main level.

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