• About Us
    • — About Digitized House
    • — Editorial Guidelines
  • Policies
    • — Ad Policy
    • — Privacy Policy
    • — Cookie Policy (US)
Friday, May 9, 2025
  • Login
Digitized House Reviews
  • Alexa
  • Apple HomeKit
  • Google Home
  • SmartThings
  • Smart Components
    • Security Cameras
    • Security Systems
    • Smart Displays
    • Smart Door Locks
    • Smart Lighting
    • Smart Plugs
    • Smart Product Round-ups
    • Smart Shades
    • Smart Speakers
    • Smart Thermostats
    • Smart Water
    • Smoke + CO Detectors
    • Solar Photovoltaics
  • About + Policy
    • About Us
    • Copyright Notice
    • Privacy Policy
    • Advertising, Affiliate Link, and Sponsorship Policy
No Result
View All Result
  • Alexa
  • Apple HomeKit
  • Google Home
  • SmartThings
  • Smart Components
    • Security Cameras
    • Security Systems
    • Smart Displays
    • Smart Door Locks
    • Smart Lighting
    • Smart Plugs
    • Smart Product Round-ups
    • Smart Shades
    • Smart Speakers
    • Smart Thermostats
    • Smart Water
    • Smoke + CO Detectors
    • Solar Photovoltaics
  • About + Policy
    • About Us
    • Copyright Notice
    • Privacy Policy
    • Advertising, Affiliate Link, and Sponsorship Policy
No Result
View All Result
Digitized House Reviews
No Result
View All Result
Home Architecture

Video: Smart Tiny Homes Built by High Schoolers

Tom Kolnowski by Tom Kolnowski
12 November 2017
in Architecture, Design, Green Building, Smart Homes, Solar Photovoltaics, Sustainable Home
Reading Time: 3 mins read
Tiny Homes Showcase home. Image: Digitized House

Tiny Homes Showcase home. Image: Digitized House

With much of the buzz around the tiny house movement focused on start-ups making their plays in the micro-housing ecosystem, high school students at the Construction Careers Academy outside of San Antonio, Texas, are quietly going about designing and building their own genre of smart and sustainable housing. The 4-year premier magnet school is a highlight of the Northside Independent School District (NISD), and serves up a curriculum designed to prepare graduates for jobs in the construction industry or preparation for continuing their studies in higher education. The institution’s mission, according to NISD: “To provide an advanced and rigorous curriculum with a focus on construction technology, construction management, architectural design, applied engineering, and real-world experience that will prepare students for studies in higher education and/or a career in a construction-related industry.”

Evidence of the seriousness of their mission is not hard to find. At the recent Rainwater Revival + Hill Country Living Festival in nearby Dripping Springs, Texas, the students had a prime example of their handiwork on display. In our walk-around video from that event, you can see the high level of design and build quality inherent in these scholarly tiny homes. More of these homes will be on display in the upcoming Tiny Homes Showcase on May 19, 2018, which will be held at the schoolyard just before the spring semester comes to a close.

These tiny homes are built on 20 to 28-foot custom trailers to make them easily mobile. Image: Digitized House
These tiny homes are built on 20 to 28-foot custom trailers to make them easily mobile. Image: Digitized House
Interiors feature a combination living/sleeping area with generous natural daylighting. Image: Digitized House
Interiors feature a combination living/sleeping area with generous natural daylighting. Image: Digitized House
A full bath and kitchen make these small homes practical, while a half-vaulted ceiling makes them live larger. Image: Digitized HouseA full bath and kitchen make these small homes practical, while a half-vaulted ceiling makes them live larger. Image: Digitized House
A full bath and kitchen make these small homes practical, while a half-vaulted ceiling makes them live larger. Image: Digitized House
Thick 2x6 walls and well-tailored architectural details set these micro homes apart. Image: Digitized House
Thick 2×6 walls and well-tailored architectural details set these micro homes apart. Image: Digitized House

These homes are a maximum of 224 square feet, and are constructed on mobile custom trailers ranging from 20 to 20 feet. With a shell designed around 2×6 framing and spray foam insulation rated at R-25, the homes are energy efficient and feature integrated HVAC units, standing-seam metal roofs, solar arrays, and smart-home technology. And to make these homes an easy sell to area residents, the homes are fully compliant with San Antonio’s residential building code.

More about this topic:

San Antonio Northside ISD Construction Careers Academy website

Tags: architectureconnected homeconnected livingdesignnon-affiliatesmart homesolar photovoltaics
Previous Post

Video: A Modern Take on Victorian Architecture

Next Post

Sonos and Amazon Alexa Make Beautiful Music Together

Tom Kolnowski

Tom Kolnowski

Tom Kolnowski is the Chief Content Officer & Founder of Digitized House Media, LLC, the publisher of Digitized House | Guide to the Connected Home. When he isn’t writing about smart home technology, sustainability, and high-performance architecture, you’ll find him exploring faraway destinations with his family.

Next Post
Sonos speakers gain voice control through the Amazon Alexa assistant. Image: Digitized House.

Sonos and Amazon Alexa Make Beautiful Music Together

Day 11 of 12 Smart Gifts: Apple AirPods wireless earbuds. Image: Digitized House.

Apple AirPods Wireless Earbuds

U by Moen Digital Shower, controlled by Amazon Alexa or Apple HomeKit and Siri. Image: Moen.

Smart Water Futures Gain Steam at CES 2018

Amazon Disclosure

To help defray the cost of publishing, Digitized House is a participant in the Amazon Associate program. We may earn a commission from qualifying purchases made from ads, buttons, or text links to Amazon placed on our website. These links may appear within editorial content, headers, footers, and sidebars. Purchasing from one of these Amazon Associate links does not increase the amount you pay, but does help keep us publishing the content you need to stay informed.

About Digitized House

We are the Guide to the Connected Home and help global consumers make their 
Connected Homes smarter, healthier, and safer through streams of original content. You can see our story here.

Like what you see on this website? You can also read us on our Apple News App Channel.

Recent Content

© 2015-2022 Digitized House Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Connect Your Home
    • Deals
    • News
    • Reviews
    • Security Cameras
    • Security Systems
    • Smart Displays
    • Smart Door Locks
    • Smart Lighting
    • Smart Plugs
    • Smart Product Round-ups
    • Smart Speakers
    • Smart Thermostats
    • Smart Water
    • Smoke + CO Detectors
    • Solar Photovoltaics
    • Smart Shades
  • Ecosystems
    • Amazon Alexa
    • Apple HomeKit
    • Google Home
    • Open Systems
  • Design Your Home
    • Architecture
    • Healthy Home
    • Home Design
    • How-To
    • Green Building
    • Real Estate
    • Sustainable Home
  • About Us + Policies
    • About Us
    • Advertising, Affiliate Link, and Sponsorship Policy
    • Privacy Policy

© 2015-2022 Digitized House Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.