Green building is Way Too Cool Arts and Science Institute’s primary emphasis in this course of study. Through unique use of materials available in Belize and an effort to design and construct with care toward environmental protection, the student will learn ways to accommodate growth while preserving the natural beauty and bounty of the area.

Openings: 20 students
Duration: 4 Semesters
Requirements: good overall physical health, basic English verbal, reading, and math skills
Skills Taught:

• use of measurement tools
• reading architectural plans
• material estimating and procurement
• tool safety, use, and care
• site selection and preparation
• basic woodwork masonry, glass glazing, concrete, plumbing, and electric skills
• use of common and alternative construction materials and techniques

Semester 1
First semester will be spent on mastering the measuring tools, construction equipment tools, reading architectural plans, and site selection and preparation. Once these skills are readily understood, we will begin with a simple project such as a warehouse, storage, or meeting hall building.

As with all construction, we will begin with a foundation. Since each project is unique to the designer and end user, the students will be exposed to (usually with hands-on opportunities) concrete slab, pier and beam, and pole (or stilt) foundations. Different flooring materials such as tile, marble, wood, bamboo, and carpet will be taught, again with an eye toward recycling and renewable resources.

Semester 2-4 (curriculum is project-based)
Way Too Cool Arts and Science Institute is often asked to design, construct, and/or finish residential buildings, so we never know which semester will bring what experiential learning opportunity. But, because of the housing, classrooms, shops, offices, art galleries, and warehouses we will need as our institute grows, all students will have vast experiences in all types of construction throughout the four semesters.

Common construction techniques such as pine stud walls, wood siding, concrete block, brick, stone, composite shingle roof, and roofing tile will be taught. The emphasis, however, will be towards alternative materials and techniques such as bamboo, salvaged wood shorts, river rock, limestone, slate, expanding foam, geodesic domes, solar, wind and methane power-generation, alternative water collection, and waste treatment methods. We will also teach the more “old school” construction techniques such as thatch roof, brick making, hand-made concrete block, bamboo wall, while updating these with modern tricks like moisture barriers, sealants, caulks, plumbing, electric, etc.

We will prepare the graduate to be a self-employed contractor with a long list of graduate artists and craftsperson’s from the different shops within the Institute that would act as subcontractors in their chosen field. That allows the graduates from this course to bid and build the most exquisite housing needed in Belize.