ANDOVER — Superintendent John Lavoie is pleased to share that students from Greater Lawrence Tech worked during the past few years to build a duplex in partnership with Andover Community Trust.
Andover Community Trust is a nonprofit that works to advocate for and develop affordable homes for families in the Andover area. GLTS has partnered with the organization on various projects since 1999.
“Partnering with Andover Community Trust allows our students from multiple disciplines to gain valuable, hands-on experience building a home, and it also allows students to utilize their trade knowledge and skills in a way that will make a big difference in someone else’s life,” Superintendent Lavoie said. “It’s a great way for students to learn and become invested in a project that will make a positive impact in the community.”
Andover Community Trust hosted a Build the Dream Celebration on June 17 and presented students with plaques.
More than 100 juniors and seniors worked on the project from Greater Lawrence Tech’s carpentry, electrical, plumbing and HVAC programs. Instructors involved in the project include electrical instructor Charlie Kennedy, plumbing instructor Kenny Henricks, plumbing instructor Mike Capeless, carpentry instructor Peter Magee, carpentry instructor Bret Marciano and HVAC instructor Joe Savino.
“The off-campus house project provides a real world work experience for our students and has a positive impact on the local communities,” Instructor Magee said.
“The experience on the house project has taught us to work as a team and to challenge ourselves individually,” said Scarlett Holbrook, of Andover, a junior in the carpentry program.
“It has also taught us valuable lessons in communication, problem solving and life lessons,” said Emilio Cardona, of North Andover, a junior in the carpentry program.
Students and instructors completed the first floor framing of the duplex, located on Lupine Road in Andover, at the end of the 2018-2019 school year. During the 2019-2020 school year, they framed the house and prepared it for roofing.
Students and instructors were able to return to the project in November 2020, after work paused temporarily due to the pandemic.
This school year, they finished installing plumbing, electrical work, duct work, and fire caulking and draft stopping was conducted by a subcontractor this June. Routine inspections on the home are being completed this month as well.
Carpentry students working on the project learned about plan reading, building codes, portable power tool use and safety, pneumatic tool use and safety, personal protective equipment (PPE), fall protection use and set up, ladders, framing floors, walls, ceilings, roofs and stairs.
Electrical students worked on temporary power to supply electricity for the workers tools, and learned about plan reading, (National Electrical Code) requirements, hand and cordless tool use and safety, ladders, service work, rough wiring, PPE, installation of devices, and layout.
Plumbing students learned about plan reading, codes, PPE, hand and cordless tool use and safety, ladders, Radon systems, sewage, hot and cold water piping, venting, drainage systems, COMBI boilers, and layout.
HVAC students worked on plan reading, codes, PPE, hand and cordless tool use and safety, venting of appliances, exhaust fans, ductwork layout and installation and termination, and ladders.
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