During the past fall semester, 38 second-year Carpentry and Renovation Technician students went on enlightening field trips with industry partners Lucchetta Homes and Turkstra Lumber. The field trips not only offered practical insights but also provided real-world inspiration for students as they near their future careers in the growing green economy.
“We are extremely grateful for these two industry partners who so generously welcomed us on their construction sites and in their manufacturing facilities,” said Annette Dearling-Manchester, Program Coordinator and Professor in the Carpentry and Renovation Technician program. “This gives our students the opportunity to ask important questions and witness the industry firsthand.”
Lucchetta Homes, a local Niagara home builder, guided students through two homes in various stages of construction and showcased their newly completed model home at the Hunters Point subdivision in Welland. Known for its expertise in building science, Lucchetta Homes specializes in net zero ready homes designed to use 60 to 80 per cent less total energy than typical Ontario Building Code homes.
During the tour, students engaged with the knowledgeable Lucchetta team, gaining valuable teachings of the construction process. The field trip served as a practical extension of their classroom teachings, allowing students to witness the application of construction details in a real-world setting. This experience not only enhanced their understanding of building capabilities but also the outcomes their education can lead to.
Turkstra Lumber, a local Ontario company, regularly welcomes NC Carpentry and Renovation students for tours of their Truss Plant and Trim/Panel plant in Smithville. During this field trip, students were thrilled at the opportunity to observe how components they apply in many in-lab building projects are made in a real-life factory setting. Of particular interest was the tour of Turkstra Lumber’s new panel facility, where entire wall panels are manufactured and then transported to sites for installation. Here, students gained a glimpse into the future of construction as the industry increasingly strives to minimize waste, time, and resources.
These field trips provided an invaluable opportunity for Carpentry and Renovation students to immerse themselves in the latest technologies and building practices in the industry, providing authentic insight into what their future careers will entail.
