Sustainable Construction

PROGRAM MISSION
To prepare students to be lifelong learners and help them achieve various professional and personal goals that may arise over a lifetime. Upon graduation, students will be poised to enter the workforce as entry-level craftsmen, builders, and technicians or transfer to other college and university programs. Our graduates will develop as skilled professionals who value both tradition and innovation at the heart of sustainable building practices today, and who actively participate in reinvigorating Maine’s construction industry.

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 skills to solve problems encountered in a building construction environment.

CRITERIA FOR GRADUATION

(XXX YYY) indicates a pre or co-requisite

Criteria for Graduation
Students must complete 60 credits in the Sustainable Construction program and achieve a minimum grade of “C” in all core courses (*). Students must achieve a final GPA of 2.0 or higher.

Kennebec Valley Community College is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution and employer.

One Year Certificate in Framing and Craftsmanship Option

The certificate in Framing and Craftsmanship is designed to prepare students for entry level positions as a versatile carpenter in the residential stick framing and/or timber framing field. Fundamental skillsets are developed in tool use and safety along with introductions to drafting and modeling. An architectural history course will familiarize students with building types and materials typically encountered in New England.

(XXX YYY) indicates a pre or co-requisite

Criteria for Graduation
Students must complete 30 credits in this Sustainable Construction certificate program and achieve a minimum grade of “C” in all core courses (*). Students must achieve a final GPA of 2.0 or higher.

One Year Certificate in Carpentry and Building Science Option

The Certificate in Carpentry and Building Science is designed to prepare students for positions of leadership in building construction with the choice to focus on stick building or timber framing in the second semester. Coursework will examine the various mechanical and renewable energy systems found in a building along with the latest materials and methods used in a high performance building envelope. Students also will receive training in project management and small business entrepreneurship.

(XXX YYY) indicates a pre or co-requisite

Criteria for Graduation
Students must complete 31 credits in this Sustainable Construction certificate program and achieve a minimum grade of “C” in all core courses (*). Students must achieve a final GPA of 2.0 or higher.

Kennebec Valley Community College is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution and employer

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.

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

Advisory Committee By-Laws

A cornerstone of this curriculum is our emphasis on sustainability and the need to raise design/build standards throughout Maine and New England. Definitions of “sustainability” or “green,” however, are often broad and varied as they relate to building design and construction.

Our faculty do not prescribe any singular definition of “sustainability” or “green building,” nor do we push the highest possible standards of building performance. Our program simply reinforces the importance of considering a structure’s lifespan through smart design, structural integrity, and historic preservation or re-use.

Multiple standards and models exist in the building world in order to ensure occupant health and safety as well as the affordability and environmental impact of the structure itself. The most basic system is the building code, not universally enforced and with only two grades – it either passes or it doesn’t. Other rating systems and certifications are voluntary, and while they remind us of important design/build considerations, they are often too rigorous, complicated, and expensive for the general public to adopt.

Our students are challenged to think about how buildings in New England can be constructed at a higher but achievable level of quality and energy efficiency.

The value of sourcing materials locally, designing a tight, energy efficient building envelope, and generating renewable energy are all practically examined throughout the program. 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.

What Sustainable Construction professionals do:

• Conventional construction, timber framing, or green building
• Finish carpentry and historic restoration carpentry
• Design and drafting in architecture or engineering firms
• Installation of renewable energy and weatherization

Students will learn about:

• Power/hand tool use and shop safety
• Building trades, systems, and the thermal envelope
• Architectural history and restoration
• Small business planning and project management
• Builder’s engineering, material technology, and green code
• Blueprint reading, drafting, and 3D modeling

Sustainable Construction graduates work in/on:

• 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

In conjunction with KVCC’s Institute of Workforce Training and Professional Development, the Sustainable Construction program offers community workshops for professional development and personal enrichment.

Sign-up today or contact Karen Delile for more information:
Call 207.453.5083
Email workforce@kvcc.me.edu

For more information, please contact:

Andrew Soule
207-453-3813 (office)
207-380-6375 (cell, preferred)
ASoule@kvcc.me.edu