On a warm summer day in July, a group of Residential Building Construction students could be found perched on the roof of a home they had built from the ground up. It’s not your typical classroom setting, but it perfectly reflects the hands-on approach that defines the program.
Students begin by learning concepts in the classroom, practice those skills in the shop and then apply them on a full-scale home build. The result is an experience that bridges theory and practice while preparing students for the realities of the construction industry.
Through a partnership with the Fox Valley Technical College Foundation, the home build has become a self-sustaining process. The Foundation purchases a lot and helps fund construction of the home. Once the build is complete, the house is turned back over to the Foundation to be sold. Any profits are reinvested to future builds and scholarships for Residential Building Construction students.
The importance of the home build cannot be overstated. For these students, this is far more than a classroom exercise. The finished product will eventually become someone’s home, which raises the stakes and reinforces the importance of quality craftsmanship.
“We can’t stop until it’s done the correct way, because someone is going to purchase the home,” says Ben Fouts, department chair of the Residential Building Construction program. “[In the classroom,] somebody may think a C is good enough, but at the home build, we’ve got to have everything done correctly.”
The experience teaches far more than construction techniques. Students develop practical skills, professional habits and problem-solving abilities that will serve them throughout their careers.
Scale and Timing
During their time in the shop, students work on small mock-ups nicknamed “the doghouses.” Each home measures roughly 10 feet by 5 feet, giving students an opportunity to practice their skills before applying them to a full-size home.
The jump from placing a few shingles on a small roof to installing shingles across 65 feet of roofing creates an entirely different experience.
“It really mimics much more of what’s happening in the real world,” says Ben. “They’re much more familiar with something that might take them a week or two to accomplish in the real world versus a day or two on a small scale.”
Adaptability and Problem-Solving
Like any real construction project, students encounter challenges that require them to adjust, collaborate and find solutions.
Some of those challenges come from working through issues that arise during previous phrases of construction, a reality Ben says mirrors the real world.
“It might be the framing is not flush, and that’s causing the door jams not to fit correctly. We have to figure out ways to work around that,” Ben says.
Accuracy and Attention to Detail
Success on a job site often comes from slowing down and doing things correctly the first time.
“I think it’s kind of like the tortoise and the hare,” says Ben. “The slow and steady seems to win the race as opposed to the fast and done quick, when we have to go back and fix things.”
For student Dalvin Smith, the level of detail involved in construction was one of the biggest surprises.
“There’s a lot of details; there’s a lot of rules and regulations that come with building,” Dalvin says. “You have to know them and implement them in order to be the best carpenter you can be.”
Confidence
One of Ben’s favorite parts of teaching is watching students grow into confident professionals. Over time, students move from relying on constant guidance to taking initiative and solving problems on their own.
Dalvin says gaining precision in the craft has also helped build his confidence, and he sees that same growth in his classmates.
“Seeing the evolution of my classmates is very motivating,” says Dalvin. “We share the same passion. We all try to exceed expectations every single day and work together to do so.”
For many students, that confidence and teamwork lead to something even more meaningful: pride in knowing their work will have a lasting impact.
The most recent home completed by the Residential Building Construction program was finished in May 2026. It was listed for sale in early June and closed at the end of July, becoming the latest example of students’ work making a tangible difference in the community.
Dalvin says the knowledge that a family will one day build memories inside the home motivates him to pursue excellence.
“Knowing that we could provide some stable memories for a family one day—get married, have children, celebrate graduations, pictures in front of the garage door,” Dalvin says. “That’s what I do it for.”
Students leave the program with more than technical skills. They enter a strong job market with real-world experience and confidence in their abilities. Ben says the demand for skilled builders continues to grow, with employers frequently seeking out FVTC graduates.
Dalvin believes the experience has prepared him for whatever comes next.
“I think I’m mentally prepared to take on any type of task, knowing that I have a foundation that was built here at Fox Valley Tech,” he says. “I think I’ll be ready for whatever comes my way.”
