For Immediate Release
Contact: Daniel Wackershauser, Marketing and PR Specialist
Phone: 608.822.2303
Mail: 1800 Bronson Blvd., Fennimore, WI 53809
Date of Release: September 12, 2025
Building Trades – Carpentry students back at it with duplex build
Fennimore -Students in the Building Trades–Carpentry program at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College are rolling up their sleeves once again, constructing a new duplex on campus that will serve as both housing and a learning laboratory.
According to instructor Andy Reynolds, the class is off to a strong start. “We’re just framing up the walls right now,” he said last week. “Basically, we’re doing the same thing we did last year. The duplex last year went really well, and now we’re framing and preparing to begin sheeting.”
The project offers students more than a chance to swing hammers. Industry professionals are invited in to share expertise on building techniques and materials. This week, a specialist will demonstrate the latest products for house wrapping and window sealing. “We like to bring contractors and professionals in here to work with students,” Reynolds explained. “That way, they see firsthand the right way to build so there aren’t leaks or rot down the road.”
Students will also take a field trip to Lumber Specialties, the company supplying the project’s trusses. “They’ve invited us to tour their factory, and we may even see our trusses being made,” Reynolds said. “That’s the kind of experience you can’t get from a textbook.”
The construction schedule is brisk. After only two weeks of outdoor work—following a week focused on tools and safety—the students are already preparing for roof installation. Reynolds said the immediate goal is to have the roof shingled before winter weather sets in. “Once the roof is on, we can pick our days,” he said. “If the weather is bad, we can move inside, and when it’s nicer, we can work on the exterior.”
For students, the chance to learn by doing is the main draw. “The hands-on experience is why they’re here,” Reynolds noted. “If we spent most of our time in the classroom with a textbook, they’d tell me every year, ‘We wouldn’t be here.’”
One of those students is Colby Leeser, a dual-enrollment student from Fennimore High School. With his high school classes completed early, Leeser decided to pursue carpentry at Southwest Tech. “I’ve always liked to build, and this is something I want to continue in the future,” he said. His plan is to move on to UW–Platteville and study construction management.
Leeser said the transition from classroom to construction site has been refreshing. “It’s a lot better out here than sitting in four walls,” he said. “You always want to make sure your work is up to standard, especially knowing students will live here. It feels good to know you’re doing it right.”
| Southwest Wisconsin Technical College is one of 16 institutions that comprise the Wisconsin Technical College System. The college was recently named the winner of the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence. Southwest Tech offers more than 60 programs in a wide variety of disciplines. Courses are offered on campus, online, HyFlex and in a blended format. The college provides apprenticeship, certificate, technical diploma, and associate degree programs that respond to district workforce needs and prepare student for family-sustaining jobs and career advancement. |