Student-built house becomes a home

At 8 a.m. on Aug. 25, Scott and Michelle Hadwin had a vacant lot next to their home.  By noon, construction crews were completing the assembly process of a brand new home for Michelle’s father, Monty Clemenhagen.

He moved to the Flathead three weeks ago to be closer to his family and to get out of the rat race of big city living in Vancouver, British Columbia.

“I was ready to breathe clean air,” Clemenhagen said.

“This is beautiful country.”

When searching for a home for Clemenhagen, the Hadwins were looking for a basic home that was transportable. When they learned that the house built by Flathead Valley Community College students was for sale, they were very interested.

“We went and looked at it the same day we found out about it,” Michelle said. “Within two to three days, we made an offer.”

Constructed by students enrolled in the college’s building trades program, the 2,800-square-foot house has three bedrooms and two baths. Its many features include dual-glazed windows, energy-efficient lighting systems, vaulted ceilings, a walk-in closet, low-flow toilets and all appliances.

Best of all for the Hadwins, the home was transportable and easily moved to their property in Kalispell.

“I like the floor plan. It’s perfect for my dad and his needs,” Michelle said. “I love the bathrooms and the bedrooms. A lot of the characteristics are pretty basic, but that’s exactly what we were looking for.”

Built by 19 students, the house was constructed in two halves, each measuring 1,400 square feet. They worked diligently to meet code requirements and to ensure the home could withstand the stress of moving.

Students in the program include teenagers enrolled in the college’s Running Start high school program and displaced workers ranging in age from mid-30s to 60s. They spent last fall and spring semesters building the home under the direction of Greg Waldrop, building trades apprentice coordinator.

“The construction crew who transported the home was very impressed with the durability of the house,” Waldrop said. “They couldn’t believe that the house resisted the typical outcomes that occur when houses are transported.”

This marked the 15th year students have built a home through this program. It was the first year the students constructed this kind of home.

“After evaluating our local housing market, we decided this type of home would best meet the needs of our local community,” Waldrop said. “We love for our house to be purchased by a local resident.”

He added that a transportable home gives people more flexibility.

Waldrop said students need hands-on experience to prepare them for successful careers in the work force. 

“Our students benefit from the high-value skill set they learn from working on the job,” he said. “Our community members benefit by having the opportunity to purchase affordable, high-quality, well-built homes constructed by hardworking and dedicated students.”

The Hadwins couldn’t agree more. Michelle said she was grateful the community college offered the program and said it was rewarding to help enable their learning experience.

At the Hadwins’ property on moving day, Clemenhagen watched in awe as Robert W. Ross Contractor’s crane placed the second half of his new home seamlessly next to the other half.

“It’s fantastic. I’ve never seen anything put together like this,” he said. “It’s unbelievable what they can do in this day and age. The crane operator is super. He makes every move count. It’s very impressive.”

 Michelle said people laugh when she tells them that this house was meant to be. She points to the mustard-yellow color accented with red ketchup-colored doors.

“It coordinates perfectly with our home and with our business,” she said.

The Hadwins own the McDonald’s franchises in Kalispell, Whitefish and Libby.

Waldrop and the Student Built House Program return this fall. 

The college offers four full-paid tuition-and-fees scholarships this year for area high school students committed to participating in the building program.

Students may still enroll in the program even though the semester began on Monday.

For more information on the program, contact Waldrop at 249-6584. For scholarship information, contact Danelle Whitten at 756-3842.