It’s a unique hands-on learning experience. Students in SUNY Morrisville’s residential construction program are rolling up their sleeves to build a small house right inside their lab.
The ambitious 14-week project is more than just an exercise in construction — it’s a lesson in teamwork, problem-solving and real-world application of classroom concepts.
Building the 15.6-by-40-foot house indoors is the vision of Michael Gridley, associate professor of residential construction.
“I wanted a project that would give them a different experience,” Gridley said of the small house, which does not fall under the category of a tiny house.
Students typically work off-site on community renovation projects in his Construction Planning & Management lab, which meets for seven hours on Fridays.
This hands-on project has them designing and constructing the structure from the ground up, gaining valuable experience in framing walls, carpentry, plumbing, electrical work, siding and insulation.
Students are also learning how to measure and cut materials precisely and about budgeting — key components of the trade.
“This house will be move-in ready when we are done,” Gridley said. It will feature custom-built cabinets, crafted by students in his cabinetry class. The roof will be added later, once the house is moved permanently to a family in Madison.
With a growing emphasis on energy-efficient building practices and sustainable construction, the house incorporates energy-efficient insulation, heating systems and windows and doors.
“Everything has to meet new energy codes,” Gridley noted.
Much of the material for the build was purchased from Curtis Lumber, whose support has made many projects possible, also highlighting the strong industry connections and networking opportunities available to students throughout the program.
For students, the entire project serves as a living classroom.
“I’ve always been a hands-on learner,” said Tilly Couture, a residential construction student from Nova Scotia, Canada, who also came to SUNY Morrisville to play women’s ice hockey. “What I like most is the hands-on experience and how much one-on-one time you get with a professor. I enjoy that you learn something in a classroom and then the next class you’re able to showcase that through doing an activity.”
This well-rounded approach prepares students for a variety of trades.
“We can basically go into any trade, like masonry and plumbing, because we know how to do a lot of things,” said Bennett Schoonover, a residential construction student from West Winfield, who was introduced to the program during a high school visit.
That versatility, combined with hands-on training, makes graduates highly sought after in the industry.
“In the last few weeks, I have had five contractors looking for students,” Gridley said. “Students graduate with practical experience that gives them a competitive edge in the industry.”
“I think anyone who’s hands-on learning or anyone who would want the one-on-one attention or specific trades learning, I think it is phenomenal here for that,” Couture said.
Students take on real-world projects outside of labs, building decks, remodeling houses and laying brick foundations, too.
“There is nothing more important than on-the-job training,” Couture said.
Later in the semester, students will be building a 28-foot-by-28-foot garage with attic trusses, along with framing a house. They are also already planning to build another small house in the lab next spring.
Gridley’s class draws students from various majors who are eager to expand their skill set or try something new.
For many, like Schoonover, that experience leads directly to employment. Schoonover has already secured a position at Siteworks Inc. in Marcellus. “Everyone I know coming out of this program gets a job.”
It also leads to internship opportunities. This summer, Couture will be interning with DeBlois Renovate and Remodel, in Manlius.
That bridge to industry is strengthened by instructors like Gridley and Shawn Ford, who bring extensive experience to the classroom.
Gridley, a 2004 residential construction graduate, also runs Gridley Construction in Madison, a business he launched shortly after graduating.
“I bring my knowledge back to the class to give them the experience that I have,” he said.
“Professor Gridley has a ton of real-world experience and we are out on actual job sites,” Schoonover said. “Aside from the hands-on experience and learning, we also learn how to work with others.”
Ford, an instructional support assistant in the residential construction and renewable energy programs, plays a key role assisting in Gridley’s labs.
His extensive experience includes working in the fossil fuel industry building power plants and nuclear facilities, as well as running a construction company for 14 years.
A drone instructor for Tompkins-Cortland Community College and the fire inspector for Chenango County, he is expanding his expertise through renewable energy courses at SUNY Morrisville. In May, he will complete his associate degree in renewable energy technology and transition into the college’s bachelor's degree program.
Residential construction student Steve Copperwheat already has his own business, ACE Construction Endeavors, in Clinton, but is back in the classroom to expand his expertise.
“The degree will give my business more credibility,” Copperwheat said. “And I am learning new stuff, including different ways of doing things.”
“The trades are huge now,” Gridley said. “Building this small house sparks interest in students.”
For community members like Jim Bright, the opportunity is unlike anything else.
“This is so unique,” said Bright, a retired Skaneateles resident, who is taking the course to obtain new skills. “It’s just a wonderful opportunity to build a house, indoors during winter.”
Bright, who worked in administrative roles his entire life, is excited to learn new things at age 66. “I am really enjoying gaining so many useful skills. I am so grateful to be taking this course.”
In addition to construction-related classes, students in SUNY Morrisville’s residential construction program focus on key business aspects through coursework in business law, accounting, employee supervision, public speaking, estimating and blueprint reading.
Their experiences are paving the way for careers in residential construction, woodworking, building materials sales, insurance claims adjusting and code enforcement, with some even aspiring to start their own businesses.
Complementing their hands-on experience are state-of-the-art facilities, including a 6,000-square-foot residential construction laboratory equipped with framing, plumbing, heating, masonry, and electrification labs. Students also benefit from specialized finish-carpentry spaces and a computer lab featuring AutoCAD software.
