It’s a class project for some Central Coast college students. But, what they’ve created could be life changing for some Northern California wildfire victims. A team of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo students designed and built a modular home for a fire ravaged community.
The 2014 Boles Fire hit the tiny community of Weed hard. It charred nearly 500 acres of land, and destroyed 150 homes. With a weak local economy, residents of the small town north of Redding are still struggling to recover.
Great Northern Services, a non-profit group in Weed, asked Cal Poly if its architectural, and construction management programs could help design some affordable replacement housing, and Cal Poly officials agreed.
Cal Poly’s Greg Starzyk says the project gave students experience in all aspects of a construction project. He says it will mean they will have a better understanding of how everything works when they are actually on the job in the field.
The team prepared the home’s two dozen plus panels, and packed them in crates. The foundation is waiting, and the house will be assembled by students at Northern California’s College of the Siskiyous.
The Cal Poly students put together instructions. So it will end up being like a giant oversized version a do it yourself assembly of a bookcase from Ikea.
The project could be the heart of what’s intended to be a seven home development in the small, economically disadvantaged community.
