Students from Estancia High School’s Building Industry Technology Academy (BITA) classes recently won first place in the Construction Industry Education Foundation’s 2025 Design Build Competition, held at Golden West College in Huntington Beach. 

Since 1986, the Construction Industry Education (CIE) Foundation has invited high school students from throughout California to design and build a structure, judged by industry professionals, on completeness of design, construction, code compliance, and safety. 

The Estancia team dedicated more than 50 hours in four months to plan the construction of a tiny house. Under the direction of Coastline Regional Occupation Program (ROP) BITA instructors Ed Jasperson and Nettie Dokes, students selected peers to fill key leadership positions such as Construction Manager and Designated Safety Person. 

In early team meetings, the students collaborated on a rough sketch of the structure they wanted to build. The concept was reviewed by a CIE Foundation architect mentor, who helped refine the tiny house’s design and create formal plans. The team entered the Open Competition, which allowed them to include additional elements, such as decorative shutters, to the standard 48-square-foot shed.

Before the competition, the team strategized on key components for the build, organizing critical areas such as the cut station, the framing zone for walls and floors, the designated site for the structure, and a rest area. The Designated Safety Person completed and updated all necessary documentation to ensure the build complied with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards.

On the first day of the competition, the students set up the designated areas according to their plans and got to work. They successfully met every milestone, giving them momentum for the second day. During the build’s final hours, everyone pushed hard to complete the tiny house by the 3 pm deadline. 

“Their hard work and collaboration paid off. Best in Show—an award recognizing the best-looking structure out of all 40 teams—was a well-earned honor that capped off an incredible experience filled with leadership, teamwork, and real-world building skills,” said Jasperson.

The finished structure was designed to resemble a rustic cabin, complete with a 32-square-foot front porch. To achieve the cabin aesthetic, the students used wood trim and shutters that were artistically burned with a torch, enhancing the natural grain and creating a weathered, rustic appearance. The handrail system on the porch incorporates rebar posts for a rugged, handcrafted touch. As an additional creative detail, students cut and installed decorative brackets on the upper corners of the front posts.

This award-winning experience reflects the strength of Estancia’s Building Industry Technology Academy (BITA), a four-year pathway focused on residential and commercial construction. Through projects like the Design Build Competition, students gain not only technical knowledge, but also valuable leadership, problem-solving, and collaboration skills that translate to real-world success.

BITA students also earn their OSHA 10-hour Construction certification and benefit from robust industry partnerships that provide mentorships, job shadowing, and internship opportunities. These hands-on experiences are helping to shape the next generation of builders, designers, and innovators and laying the foundation for fulfilling careers in the construction and building performance industries.