Collaborative Design/Build Intensive – Jun 15, 2026

Collaborative Design/Build Intensive

Intermediate

Jun 15-26, 2026

Main Campus in Waitsfield, VT

12 Class Days

$2,000.00 Tuition

Apply

Learn about sliding scale tuition

The interior of a project completed by the 2024 Collaborative Design/Build Intensive featuring wood siding, a curved roof and clear roof panels.

Combine newly learned design and carpentry skills to complete a small scale project.

This two-week intensive combines fundamental carpentry training with hands-on experience in consensus-based design. Students work collaboratively to design and build a project for a community or nonprofit client—developing the program, working within a budget, and finalizing the design in just three days. Once approved, the class moves to the job site to bring the design to life.

Throughout the course, students engage in the full design/build feedback loop—gaining practical skills, adapting plans in real time, and sharpening their creative problem-solving abilities.

Read Syllabus

Intermediate

Jun 15-26, 2026

Main Campus in Waitsfield, VT

12 Class Days

$2,000.00 Tuition

Apply

Learn about sliding scale tuition

Class Schedule

Week 1
Monday - Saturday
9am-5pm with evening work as needed

Sunday: Optional Work Day

Week 2
Monday - Friday
9am-5pm with evening work as needed

Experience Level & Prerequisites

There is no experience required. However, students should expect long days and hard work to bring to project to completion. 

Credits

  • 3 UMass Amherst Credits
  • 5 Sterling College CEUs
  • 84 AIA Credits

Project Gallery

A composting toilet structure built by students in 2024 featuring a gothic arch style roof.
Two benches covered by a clear roof designed and built by students in 2019.
A wooden model of a bus stop structure featuring benches and wood slates designed by students in 2019.
A bus stop designed and built by students in 2020.
A weather wooden bus stop featuring a unique heliciform shape in a grassy field in front of a blue sky.
A wooden pavilion with slatted siding and built in bench on a wooded trail in the summer.
A small wooden tiny house on wheels is displayed outdoors in front of a large rustic building with dark shingles and green trim. Several people are gathered around, and a banner in front of the tiny house reads “Yestermorrow.”
A small wooden structure with railings and a slanted translucent roof stands outdoors on a gravel surface. The design features multiple levels connected by ramps and platforms, blending play and architectural elements. Trees, a fence, and a nearby building are visible in the background under a clear sky.
A wooden outdoor pavilion with a slatted roof and circular wall opening stands on a paved surface near a parking lot. The structure includes built-in benches, a ramp for access, and a rain barrel connected to the roof for water collection. A planter box with flowers sits nearby, and historic brick buildings and parked cars are visible in the background.

Instructors

Sliding Scale Tuition

The implementation of a sliding scale is part of our commitment to economic justice and continued equity within education. Students can select the rate that applies best to their situation during registration.

Tier 1


Tuition Assistance: 65% reduced rate

Paying for this course presents a significant financial hardship. 

Tier 2


Tuition Assistance: 85% reduced rate

Paying full price for this course presents somewhat of a financial hardship. 

Tier 3


Full Tuition
Paying this price may be a sacrifice, but I can find the resources to do so. 

Tier 4


Your Tuition & Help Another: Full Tuition + 15%

Paying for this course does not present a significant financial sacrifice. I have the ability to redistribute resources and increase access for others. 

Tier 5

Your Tuition & Help Another: Full Tuition + 40%
Paying for this course does not present any financial sacrifice. I have the ability to redistribute resources and increase access for others. 

Meals & Lodging

  • Lodging
    Ranges from $15 - $60 per day depending on season and which type of housing you select
    Learn More
  • Meals
    $20-$55 per day
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