Design Studies, Building Opportunities and Landscape Design students at École Secondaire Notre Dame High School in Red Deer are working together to design and ultimately construct a 40 foot sea-can house.

By Sheldon Spackman

Tiny Living

Notre Dame students showcase sea-can house designs

Jun 11, 2019 | 3:21 PM

Students in pursuit of design and trade skills at École Secondaire Notre Dame High School are getting a unique opportunity to advance those skills.

Officials with Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools say the Design Studies, Building Opportunities and Landscape Design classes have been working together to design and construct a 40 foot sea-can house.

On June 11, an open house was held in the school’s learning commons to showcase the Design Studies 20/30 student work of the semester.

Teacher Janna Vandermeer says the project is a great way to help prepare students for a potential career after high school.

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“In the Design Studies class, specifically this advanced class, we focus on architecture and engineering,“ says Vandermeer. “The sea-can project itself is a conversion project, we had a donation from Tervita of a 40 foot sea-can and we are converting it into a tiny home, a tiny livable space. The goal of course is to make it structurally sound but also, so that potentially we could have a home warranty as well.”

Students in the Design Studies class according to Vandermeer work on the electrical plans, structural plans, HVAC, plumbing and custom furniture designs that will work in a tiny space to make the project a legitimate, legal living space.

“It’s wonderful to think, ‘Oh, how do I build this brand new soccer stadium?’” says Vandermeer. “It’s another thing to really think about, “How can I take a limited amount of material or even a recycled material and turn it into something that is very useful for someone?”

Housing affordability is another aspect Vandermeer anticipates the project to address.

“We’ve actually already been approached by a few local companies who are interested in potentially turning certain areas of Red Deer into small, living communities,” she exclaims. “Communities that welcome and emphasize a lower carbon footprint, living green, the idea of sustainability within the structure and the materials and just kind of living small.”

Working with industry professionals donating their time and expertise, the Design Studies students have been drafting layouts and building models of the sea-can house, while learning the requirements of residential construction.

Elsewhere, the Building Opportunities students had and continue to receive hands-on training working on the construction of the sea-can house, alongside a ticketed tradesman.

The Landscape Design students meanwhile are said to be working with professionals in the areas of architecture, skills and project management to create a living roof for the sea-can house.

Now in its second year, the project will continue for another school year until completion, with hopes of grant funding still to come in.

Vandermeer feels the students involved will also build on their leadership, management and overall people skills.

“That idea that when you do work in a team of people in any profession, you learn from each other,” explains Vandermeer. “You have to be willing to ask those questions and to push each other and provide each other with constructive criticism because it is that feedback that we need to grow in whatever it is that we choose to do.”