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.

“It’s been a great program for me so far. I didn’t think we would get into the shop as soon as we did. That was great.”
—KVCC Student

Program Information

Degree & Certificate Requirements

Educational Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the Sustainable Construction program, a graduate is expected to:

  1. 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.
  2. Communicate effectively while listening and responding  appropriately to a variety of building construction situations.
  3. 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 HinkleyLecturer 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

Advisory Committee By-Laws