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“”Students in the School District of La Crosse’s Architecture Construction Engineering (ACE) Academy are wrapping up work on their first complete home construction project. The ACE Academy has helped with smaller projects throughout the city in the past – garages, siding, framing, and more – but this is the first time the students have built an entire home from start to finish. They unveiled the home during an open house this week at the project site located at 2922 22nd Street South in La Crosse.

The two-year project began two years ago with a foundation already set. Last year’s ACE Academy seniors framed the entire structure. This year’s group of seniors built the detached garage, did all the exterior siding and finish, and all of the interior finish, trim, and cabinets. During the two year build, 38 seniors contributed to the project.

“This project was a great opportunity for these students to be exposed to the many career options the construction industry has to offer as well as give them the proper background and education to pursue their secondary education and career paths,” said ACE Academy teacher Nick Kalina. “Many of our students are continuing their education pursuing construction management, engineering, and other construction-related fields. We have also had students go immediately into the workforce and utilize the hands-on skills they have learned here and apply them to a career.”

The ACE Academy students were also helped by local partnering construction contractors Fowler and Hammer, Market and Johnson, and JF Brennan, and vendors who completed work on the home’s HVAC, electrical, and plumbing systems. These companies not only supplied tools and scaffolding but have included ACE Academy students in their job shadow programs.

“I want to be an architectural technician so I wanted to understand how an entire home comes together, and this program has been pretty amazing and given me that knowledge,” said Central High School student Treytan Stalsberg. “It also makes me feel pretty good knowing we are helping to improve our city. It’s great to see that the one positive change a group of high schoolers made can help build up a whole neighborhood.”

The home is part of the district’s partnership with the City of La Crosse’s Replacement Housing Program, which since 1997, has worked to revitalize neighborhoods through demolishing dilapidated housing and replacing them with new homes. The 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom home will be listed for sale for approximately $160,000, to be purchased by a family earning 80% or less of the county median income ($57,900 or less for a family of four). The program is possible through a Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Community Development Block Grant and HOME Investment Partnership.””””[vc_gallery type=”flexslider_slide” interval=”0″ images=”14059,14060,14061,14062,14063,14064,14066,14067,14068,14070,14071,14072,14073,14074,14075,14076,14077,14078,14048,14051,14049,14050,14052,14054,14055,14056,14053,14057,14058,14079″ img_size=”625×417″]””