BERLIN — The Landry family of Berlin still has a few things to do before they can move into their new house, but the wait it almost over, thanks to the 2012 Building Trades students of the Berlin Regional Career and Technical Education center, located at Berlin High School.

In September 2011 the two classes of Berlin CTE students — nine seniors and 12 juniors — started constructing the 1,800-square-foot house from the foundation up. It's a two-year program that has been offered in Berlin since 1976, and benefits both students and home owners.

Those who successfully apply to have a house built by the program must have the site work and foundation all set at the start of the school year. The owner does not pay for the students' labor, but contributes 10 percent above the cost of the materials to build the house. That 10 percent helps support the cost of the program, which includes equipment and tools costs.

“We've known about this program for years,” Ryan Landry said during a recent tour of the house. He said it takes longer than building a house the conventional way, but it's worth it.

As for moving in, he said, “We're thinking the first week of August.” The “we” are his wife, Janice, his daughter, Emily and son, Matthew. He said the house is 85 to 90 percent complete and that, “Now my wife and I are going to finish everything.”

The house sits on a 142-acre lot, extremely rare for the densely populated city. It's right on the edge of the steep-streeted neighborhood of the East Side, and a look out the new windows in the back of the house reveals the slopes of Mt. Forist. The students, during their class block work at the site, have seen a bear, moose tracks, and other wildlife.

It's a two-year, year-long program. In a classroom setting, juniors learn safe work practices, the basic construction trade knowledge and the proper use of hand and power tools. At the work site, they put into practice what they've learned, and they build a house.

Seniors in the program are expected to take a great responsibility for the project. Upon completion of the program, they will have entry level carpentry skills and OSHA training in construction safety. They will also have Hilti and pneumatic tool training.

Few, if any, other CTEs in the state offer a similar experience for their students.

Matt Lambert, the Building Trades instructor, said most of the drywall is subcontracted out, because it would really slow down the project, but that the students did get drywall experience. They did the drywall in the garage, where the need to be perfect cosmetically was not as critical. They also did the hardwood flooring.

Professionals come in and do the plumbing and wiring, and the floor tiles are also done by outside professionals, but the students do get to watch those tradesmen in action.

Lambert said, “We expose them to everything we can.”

In the last three-plus decades, the program has built around 35 houses, and constructed additions, too.

“We've added to the tax base considerably,” Roland Pinette, Berlin CTE director, said. With an emphasis on career-ready skills, he said, “We've got quite a few tradesmen in town that have been through this program.”

He said that several years ago the state Department of Education brought everyone together to work on competencies. All seniors go through an OSHA 10-hour class and get a card, something that is desired by employers. The CTE program started offering that about 10 years, ago, and the staff looks for more ways to enhance the program and add “things that could add value to the students' skill set as they move on.”

Lambert said the program gets “a lot of positive comment from the community.”

“We've gotten to see it because we've lived it,” Landry said. The home has three bedrooms and two baths. Recently, the CTE program held an open house at the site. “A lot of people showed up,” Landry remarked.

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Sara Young-Knox may be reached at syoungknox@newstote.com.