[MCN] Big Sky High School Students Design 50th Habitat Home

Thu Apr 14 13:21:57 EDT 2016

N. Humes

Habitat for Humanity of Missoula

April 14, 2016

Local/ State/Regional

For Immediate Release

Big Sky High School Students Contribute to the Design

of Missoula's 50th Habitat Home - Ground Breaking Tonight

Architectural Design students in Big Sky High School teacher Chris
Jacaruso's class are participating in the ultimate hands-on experience -
designing and constructing a full-scale home for a Missoula family.  Over
one year ago, Mike Sehorn, Habitat for Humanity of Missoula's Building Site
Supervisor, contacted Jacaruso to see if his students in the Architectural
Design Class would be interested in creating a floor plan for a Habitat
home.  Jacaruso agreed to the proposal and started the project with his
students when the school year began last fall.

Sehorn visited the class and presented details of the need for a floor plan
for a two bedroom home.  Late last year the Big Sky H.S. class toured
Habitat's 49th home in Missoula, which took a team of nearly 500 volunteers
and eight months to finish. The students went over the house plans,
construction details, and the energy efficiency features in order to begin
the work on the home plans for Habitat's 50th home.  Subsequently, the group
stopped by the build site on Burlington Avenue to see the lot where the two
bedroom, one bath home design will be built for the Fimmel family this year.

"This project couldn't be a better win-win for our community," states Noreen
Humes, Habitat for Humanity of Missoula Executive Director.  "What a great
way for our high school students to participate in a real life project.
Habitat is utilizing the plans the students created, providing them a
learning opportunity, and providing us a design that benefits our partner
family and the community. We are grateful to Chris Jacaruso and his students
partnering with us on this project and hope we can do it again."

During the creative process, Sehorn and Habitat's Building Committee Chair,
Gerry Knudsen, visited the class periodically to monitor progress and answer
any questions.  Jacaruso's class finalized their design in January. Sehorn
then took the students' plans to architects Chris Martison and Kate
Tilleman, of A&E Architecture.  With their suggestions, and features from
the students' plans, they combined the designs to generate the official
construction plan.  A&E Architects took over the blueprints and the students
will continue their involvement this summer by volunteering on the
construction site.  

"A&E Architects continues to be excited and inspired to be a part of the
process of providing what is essential, and by providing the essentials, a
family can be empowered through new opportunities," states Chris Martison,
Principal at A&E Architects and Habitat for Humanity Board Director.  "Each
year, I am completely moved by the commitment and dedication of time and
hard work by Missoula's volunteer community to build homes that support our
partner families and further the mission of the Habitat Board."

This collaboration with Big Sky High School students has proven to be a
wonderful experience for all involved.  Habitat hopes to continue involving
local student architects in future projects.  Thanks to Chris Jacaruso and
his Architectural Design students for their passion and interest in this
project, and to the A&E architects' willingness to encompass the students'
work.  The ground breaking ceremony on this home will be held Thursday,
April 14, 2016 starting at 5:30pm located at 2217 Burlington Ave. in
Missoula.

Habitat for Humanity of Missoula works to eliminate poverty housing in
Missoula County and throughout the world as an affiliate of Habitat for
Humanity International.  

For more information:

Noreen Humes, Habitat Executive Director 549-8210,
<mailto:habmsla at habitatmsla.org> habmsla at habitatmsla.org

Mike Sehorn, Habitat Site Supervisor 239-3999,
<mailto:sitesuper at habitatmsla.org> sitesuper at habitatmsla.org

Chris Jacaruso, Big Sky High School, 728-0787,
<mailto:cjacaruso at mcps.k12.mt.us> cjacaruso at mcps.k12.mt.us

Kate Tilleman or Chris Martison, A&E Architects, 721-5643
<mailto:ktilleman at aearchitects.com> ktilleman at aearchitects.com or
<mailto:cmartison at aearchitects.com> cmartison at aearchitects.com 

Vertical Color small

Noreen Humes

Executive Director

Habitat for Humanity of Missoula

P.O. Box 7181

3655 Highway 200 East

Missoula, MT  59807

(406)549-8210

fax (406)549-8215

www.habitatmsla.org

"A home transcends being just a shelter.  It represents the opportunity to
unleash potential."  

Rajashree Birla

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