The Sustainable Construction program provides students with the technical knowledge and hands-on skills needed to gain employment across many areas of the construction industry. Timber frame carpentry with its fine joinery techniques is the framework through which our students develop as craftsmen while our complimentary stick framing course acclimates students to efficient, industry-standard framing methods. During the second year, students will take specialized courses in both finish carpentry and residential code. Basic hand and power tool proficiency, proper maintenance, and safe work practices are stressed at all times.
This program aims to create knowledgeable, flexible workers who are ready for a variety of employment opportunities. Highly valued skills in design, verbal and written communication, applied math, and small business basics are taught in order to graduate critical thinkers who are able to troubleshoot problems in the building industry.
A cornerstone of this curriculum is our emphasis on sustainability and the need to raise design and build standards throughout Maine and New England. Our program reinforces the importance of considering a structure’s lifespan through smart design, structural integrity, and historic preservation. The value of sourcing materials locally, designing a tight, energy efficient building envelope, and generating renewable energy are all practically examined. All of this is put into the context of the American building and carpentry tradition through the Architectural Style and Construction in New England course.
The two-year associated program encompasses all the content from both one-year certificates. The associate degree is the best option for most students, as it provides a wide array of construction knowledge and prepares students for career versatility and advancement.
Program Information
Degree & Certificate Requirements
Educational Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the Sustainable Construction program, a graduate is expected to:
- Practice the skills of the profession in a conscientious, responsible, and accountable manner while recognizing the need to continue to expand their technical knowledge and skills.
- Communicate effectively while listening and responding appropriately to a variety of building construction situations.
- Think critically and use their acquired analytical skills to solve problems encountered in a building
construction environment.
Career Opportunities
- Contracting firms on a project management or design path
- Small timber frame or conventional construction businesses
- Housing non-profits and building inspection agencies
- Renewable energy and weatherization services
Contact
For more information, please contact:
Program Faculty
Program Resources
Tools List
The tool list below represents the minimum required tools for successfully participating in the Sustainable Construction Program. You will need your tools on the first day of class. Many students may decide to purchase additional tools as they progress through the program, and based upon their individual goals. Required tools will be discussed during accepted student night, please be sure to attend and bring any questions you have.
| TOOL | RECOMMENDED MAKE/MODELS FOR GOOD QUALITY AND VALUE | ROUGH COST | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tool belt | Home Depot link | $40 | |
| Combination square | Home Depot link | $12 | |
| 16 oz finish hammer | $16 | ||
| Framing square | $16 | Must have framing tables, 16ths, 10ths, and 12th of inch gradations. | |
| Nail sets | $10 | small, medium, large | |
| Box cutter style knife and replacement blades | $12 | ||
| Tape measure | $10 | Non fractional read (easy read). Standard gradation. | |
| 3/4″ wood chisel | Lee Valley link | $15 | A single 3/4″ chisel is all you need. A set may be a good investment for some students. |
| 1.5″ timber framing framing chisel | Brands: Barr tools or Robert Sorbey | $100 | The Barr chisel is of higher quality, but the Sorbey is also good quality. |
| Safety glasses | |||
| Hand saw | Stanley Tools link | $25 | |
| Drill/driver bits (2 of each): t-10, t-15, t-20, t-25, t-30, t-35, P2 |
$16 | Purchase the longer bits (about 1″ long), not the short (about 1/4″ long) bits. | |
| Molding bar | Home Depot link | $16 | |
| #2 round pencils | $5 | ||
| Carpenter pencils | $5 | ||
| Sharpies | $5 | ||
| Timber framing mallet | Wood is Good Co. link | $40 | Purchase the heavier 30 oz. mallet. |
| Chalk line | $5 | Minimum one blue line, better to own one blue and one red. | |
| Calculator | $20 | Must have trigonometry functions, cell phone calculator is not allowed during testing. | |
| Drill bit set | $20 | ||
| Cordless drill (not an impact driver) | Home Depot link or Home Depot Link |
$150 | Impact drivers are not allowed during the lab due to the excessive noise interfering with student and instructor communication. |
| Proper lab clothing |
Steel toe work boots and long pants are required during all construction labs. |
||
| A Windows-based laptop computer capable of running the most recent version of Sketchup Pro and Auto Cad 2019 or newer. | |||
| Approximate Total | $938 |
Advisory Committee
Made up of area employers, industry leaders, and community members, the Sustainable Construction Program Advisory Committee’s primary purpose is to help the College ensure that the program is relevant to the community, addresses current industry standards, meets workforce needs, and has appropriate resources to support high quality student outcomes. To accomplish this purpose, the advisory committee focuses on the specific functions of program development, curriculum review, program evaluation, instructor guidance, student recruitment, retention, and placement.
Below you will find:
- A list of current advisory committee members
- Agendas from current and past meetings
- Minutes from past meetings
- Advisory Committee By-Laws
Sustainable Construction Program
Advisory Committee
| Bjarki Gunnarsson, Owner The Wood Mill of Maine 1386 Mercer Road Mercer, ME 04957 207.517.2145 contact@thewoodmillofmaine.com |
Dean Dolham, President Waterville Area Habitat for Humanity P.O. Box 1972 Waterville, ME 04903 207.465.7764 dean.Dolham@sappi.com |
| Kim Lindlof, President and CEO Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce 50 Elm Street Waterville, ME 04901 207.873.3315 kimberly@midmainechamber.com |
Andrew Soule, Instructor Somerset Career and Technical Center 61 Academy Circle Skowhegan, ME 207.474.2151 ext. 4510 asoule@msad54.org |
| Ashley Richards, Executive Officer Homebuilders and Remodelers Association P.O. Box 352 Brunswick, ME 04011 207.622.7792 ash@hbrame.org |
Matt Miller, Project Manager, Structural Engineer M2 Structural Engineering 23 Thornbury Way Windham, ME 207.892.0983 matt@m2se.com |
| Hans Albee, Engineer and Solar Designer Revision Energy 91 West Main Street Liberty, ME 04949 207.589.4171 hans@revisionenergy.com |
Nicole Rogers, Architect SMRT Architects 144 Fore Street Portland, ME 877.700.7678 nrogers@smrtinc.com |
| Ken Coville, President Good Will-Hinckley 16 Prescott Drive Hinckley, ME 04944 Office: 207-238-4001 Cell: 207-314-2601 kcoville@gwh.org |
Mark Champagne, Instructor Mid-Maine Technical Center 3 Brooklyn Avenue Waterville, ME 04901 207.649.0437 champagne@mmtc.me |
| Christi Mitchell, Associate Director Maine Historic Preservation Commission 55 Capitol Street Augusta, ME 04333 207.287-3811 christi.mitchell@maine.gov |
Katherine Carlson, Owner Maine Mountain Timber Frames 1106 Rangeley Road Avon, ME 207.491-7203 mainemountainframes@gmail.com |
| Ellen Gibson, Director Vaughan Woods and Historic Homestead 2 Litchfield Road Hallowell, ME 04347 207.622.9831 ellengibson@vaughanhomestead.org |
Tom Twist, Sustainability Manager Bates College 147 Russell Street Lewiston, ME 04240 207.786-8367 ttwist@bates.edu |
| Amy Hinkley, Lecturer in Architecture Interim Program Co-Coordinator University of Maine at Augusta Handley Hall, 331 Water Street Augusta, Maine 04330 207.621-3095 Amy.hinkley.architect@gmail.com |
Beth Fisher Chair, Maine STEM Council President-Elect, Maine Administrators of Career & Technical Education Director, Mid-Coast School of Technology 1 Main St. Rockland, ME 04841 207.594.2161 bfisher@mcst8.org |
| Dan Kolbert, Owner Kolbert Building 90 Gray Street Portland, ME 04102 207.799.8799 Dan@KolbertBuilding.com |
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