Student Built High Performance Sheds are Underway

Wrenshall and Cloquet high school carpentry students are mid-build on their solar-powered, high performance “studio sheds”! Last week, Just Housing was delighted to visit each school and see the progress both classes are making. Cloquet students are framing the walls; Wrenshall students have walls and roof framed and are sheathing the structure, sealing the sheathing as the air barrier.

Although the students are still early in the process, they are in the thick of planning, preparing and executing the “green details.” Rachel, Wrenshall carpentry teacher Chris Gustafson, and two students are pictured here discussing how to seal the wall sheathing to the window box frame, a construction detail specific to assemblies with exterior continuous insulation.

We’re thrilled to see the students get high performance construction experience. This is training that’s sorely needed but hard to come by, especially in our region. Both teachers are excited that this project serves as training for them as well.

We owe a big thanks to our high school teachers, Chris Gustafson (Wrenshall) and Dusty Rhoades (Cloquet), for the work they do everyday and additionally for their coordination and instruction on this project. Randy Williams, Sue French, and John Goeke, the project’s building professionals, have also provided indispensable hands-on help to our design team, the students, and the teachers.

This project is also made possible with funding from the Northeast Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships through UMN Extension, and the many industry partners who have provided generous donations: Intectural, Huber Engineered Woods, The Rockwool Group, Dakota Steel, and Andersen Windows.