Building Trades

Second-year students in Alfred State College’s heavy equipment operations program, along with Lecturer Brian Adams, are spearheading the current build for a new “flexible theater” at the Fassett GreenSpace in Wellsville.

Students in the building trades: building construction; masonry; heavy equipment operations; electrical construction and maintenance electrician; and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) programs all had a hand in the construction.

This expansion and enhancement of the HVAC program will benefit industry in two ways. First, it will provide twice as many graduates each year to meet workforce needs. Second, it will provide graduates with more experience in clean energy, renewable energy, and manufacturing applications.

With an emphasis on hands-on, real-world learning, Alfred State College students in the School of Applied Technology are well prepared for the jobs they want after only two years of study.

Jack Jones, chair of Alfred State’s Building Trades Department, said the Careers in Construction event provided students with great insight into careers in the residential arm of construction. 

“These trips broaden the horizons of our students. For some, this is their first opportunity to see the world beyond their home,” said Jones.

The purpose of the project, Jones said, is to determine if shipping containers can be repurposed into high-efficiency housing or office units, and also to provide students with a new form of applied learning.

Once construction is finished, the 55th house that the college has built for the Wellsville community will include 1,800 square feet of space, three bedrooms, two bathrooms, an open-concept floor plan, a large master suite, outdoor living space, and a full basement. The house is located at 3867 Foundation Drive in Wellsville.

Participating in the trip were four building trades: building construction students: Kyle Coffey, of Caledonia; Justin Higgins, of Buffalo; Sasha Johnson, of Webster; and Gavin Hamilton, of New City, along with Brady Adams, instructor in the Building Trades Department.

The relationship between Alfred State College and HistoriCorps is a strong one, resulting in both the restoration of historic facilities all around the country and excellent hands-on learning experiences for ASC students.