• About Us
    • — About Digitized House
    • — Editorial Guidelines
  • Policies
    • — Ad Policy
    • — Privacy Policy
    • — Cookie Policy (US)
Thursday, May 29, 2025
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
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
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

Recommended Stories

Image: Diette Henderson on Unsplash.

Cyber Week Deals on Favorite Smart Home Gadgets

25 November 2020
Google Home Hub aims to be the central command center for your connected home. Image: Google.

Google Nest Hub Embraces the Hybrid Connected Home

11 October 2018
Regular seasonal maintenance on solar panel systems is a must. Image: Native.

Home Solar Systems: A Seasonal Maintenance Guide

5 December 2018

Popular Stories

  • Flo by Moen Smart Water Monitor and Shutoff. Image: Digitized House Media.

    Flo by Moen Smart Water Monitor and Shutoff Review

    83 shares
    Share 33 Tweet 21
  • Rachio Smart Hose Timer Review

    82 shares
    Share 33 Tweet 21
  • Lūp Cable Brings Magnetic Charm to Charging

    82 shares
    Share 33 Tweet 21
  • Moen Smart Sprinkler Controller Review

    80 shares
    Share 32 Tweet 20
  • Kohler H2Wise+ Marks Rise of the Water Network

    80 shares
    Share 32 Tweet 20
Digitized House Reviews

Digitized House is the only independent digital publisher laser-focused on guiding consumers to a smarter, healthier, and safer home through streams of original editorial content.

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.

Recent Content

Lūp Cable Brings Magnetic Charm to Charging

Flo by Moen Smart Water Monitor and Shutoff Review

Mowrator S1, a Drone for Your Lawn

Product Guide to Level Lock Smart Lock Solutions

© 2015-2025 Digitized House Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

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

© 2015-2025 Digitized House Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?