View our updates below and follow along with our students as they build a new home from the ground up
Building Futures
Build brighter futures
As a leading Airdrie home builder, McKee Homes is passionate about sharing our knowledge of and deep love for crafting homes, while helping youth discover construction and business skills, community leadership, and rewarding career opportunities. That’s why we created the Building Futures program in partnership with Rocky View School Division in 2013.
Through Building Futures, our team teaches grade 10 students about the trades and home building, while they work with and learn from our expert trade partners to build a home from the ground up. The process includes everything from design, surveying, drafting, and construction to the staging, marketing, and sales of the home. During the year, our students also have the opportunity to learn from industry professionals about credit, mortgages, and lending.
“It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity,” said Ryan McCracken, 16. “You don’t see that very often where you get to go and build two houses from the ground up, and also learn your Grade 10 curriculum.”
Help us build brighter futures today.
Current class & teachers
The school year for 2022/23 has now ended! What an excellent year the students had building 2 homes in Reynolds Gate, (Coopers Crossing) with the guidance of their teachers Shaun and Travis, along with the expertise of Sheri McAlister (Building Futures Project Manager/McKee Homes Construction Superintendent) and our incredible trade partners. This was our 10th year anniversary of the program with even more opportunities available to the students - for example, a dual credit program with SAIT where the students had the opportunity to visit the Technical College for 16 days over the second half of the semester to learn about different trades, business classes, entrepreneurship, and earn credits! We finished the year with the annual Exhibition of Learning where three students shared their experiences with speeches to the large group in attendance, and the class created amazing projects to demonstrate their individuality and new skills learned through the year.
For 2023/24 school year the project will move over to Chinook Gate in Airdrie. We already have started framing the first building to get ready for the temporary learning space! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook to see updates the students will share as the year commences.
Our trade partners
Building Futures is not possible without the amazing support of our team of trades who demonstrate their knowledge and pride in their professions as part of construction of a new home. From start to finish, there are so many trade and supplier professionals that we would like to recognize and thank for their support and commitment to our students during their involvement in the construction of the home. Our Construction Project Manager Sheri orchestrates the project from start to finish and her commitment to the learning experience for the students is exemplary. Throughout the process, Sheri is supported from time to time by other departments within our company who bring their experience in design, sales, safety, business and warranty to the students.
Building Futures Timeline
Surveying
Excavate
Foundation
Framing
Plumbing and HVAC
Electrical
Siding
Insulate and Vapour Barrier
Drywall, Tape, Mud
Prime and Paint
Exhibition of Learning - June (TBA)
Building on a foundation of quality, honesty, and integrity, McKee Homes has become one of the most highly sought after Airdrie home builders.