Industry members help build Vancouver GATE House

After years of moving from one temporary home to another, the Vancouver School District's Gateway to Adult Transition Education program in Washington state should have a permanent home when the next school year begins in September.

The new home for the program, which helps to transition students with substantial learning and physical disabilities from high school to independent living, is currently being constructed with the help of a wide variety of construction industry members.

Among the industry members that are helping to build the project is a local carpenters union that has already pitched in on three Saturdays to help install the exterior siding on the building that has been designed to resemble a house.

Over the years we've been involved in various community projects, said Bruce Ashback, business representative for Vancouver's Local 1715 Carpenters Union. You have to give back to your community.

The carpenters union along with LSW Architects, LCD Engineering, Quail Construction and a variety of other businesses and community members have all pitched in to help make the project a reality, said Dr. Jim Sork, director of the Vancouver School District Foundation.

People that normally compete with each other are co-operating and working together on this, Sork said. It has established a connection and a bond between the school district and local businesses.

According to Sork, the project is being constructed by community members at community expense and will be gifted to the school district when it is completed. Sork further explained that without the project being built and funded by community members, the school district would not have been able to pay for the project.

There has been a lot of co-operation to make this thing happen, Sork said. It took us a while to get all the mechanics in place, but it's all working now.

The single-level building, which is approximately 3,500 square feet, was designed to feature an open concept with classroom space, instructional kitchen space with two cooking stations, a utility room, living space, office space and a reception area with a secure entry. Additionally, outside areas of the house will be used for gardening and horticulture projects and a greenhouse.

It is designed specifically for the needs of these young people, Sork said. It will be a home for them, and they've never had that before.

Sork said the project, which is estimated to cost about $500,000, is partially completed, but with additional support from community members could easily be completed with the goal of being ready for use in September.

We've had some very large generous contributions that have gotten us as far as we are, Sork said. Right now, we're about $100,000 short of the cash and contributions that we need to complete the whole project- I am sure we'll be able to finish it out, but right now we need a little help.

In an effort to garner the additional financial backing that will be needed to complete the project, Sork said the school district will host a Hard Hat Breakfast March 23 from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. at the GATE House project site, which is located at the intersection of 18th Street and Norris Road in Vancouver.

At the breakfast, interested volunteers will be able to see the progress of the project and learn how they can help to complete it, Sork explained.

Hopefully, we will be able to secure the final support that we need at the breakfast, Sork said.

Copyright 2005 Dolan Media Newswires
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.