SAIT teacher urges school to reopen hands-on construction lab where students built houses

An instructor with the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) is urging the school to reopen a hands-on learning lab where students in the civil engineering and architectural technology programs would build houses to better understand the process.

SAIT instructor Carlo Velcic says he doesn't understand why SAIT shuttered the lab, which he says was immensely helpful when teaching his estimating class.

Each year, teams of students would build the frame, floor and roof of a home, plus install windows and doors on two 1,000-square-foot bungalows.

"When we combine the theory with the practical, they go to the lab and actually see what we're talking about in class. They have that 'aha' moment where they go, 'I get it now.' We've lost that," Velcic said.

The lab has been around in one form or another for decades.

In 2012, it was officially named the Founding Builders Home Lab in honour of the 10 Calgary builders who donated $1 million each to help build the large hangar-like space in SAIT's trades and technology complex. 

Velcic says SAIT told staff and students it was closing the lab around the time the pandemic hit. At the time, he says, there was so much going on, he put the issue aside knowing it would be a while before students returned to in-person learning.

With students back and the lab still closed, he says he's been asking a lot of questions without any real answers.

"It just doesn't make any sense," said Velcic. "Nobody's saying why we can't have it back."

In a statement to CBC News, a spokesperson for SAIT said it continually evaluates programs and curriculum while considering industry needs and enrolment.

It goes on to say the space itself remains open, but the use of a full-sized house for learning has been "discontinued." Instead, the lab will be used as a space for innovation and the exploration of new building methods.

"This includes advancing the construction industry through applied digital education," said Brian Zinter, interim dean with the SAIT school of construction.

"Also, the space can now be used for commercial construction practices, capstone projects, project-based learning, industry collaboration, speakers and presentations, and our MakerSpace [a student club] is relocating to the homebuilder lab as well."

Velcic says he plans to retire soon and worries about the current and future students who won't get this type of hands-on training, especially international students, recent high school graduates or those who haven't worked in the industry before.