There is a new house on Rising Sun Road in Schnecksville.

The house comes complete with beautiful landscaping, universal design, attractive lighting and meticulously hand-crafted cabinetry. By all standards, this house has it all.

What makes the house most unique is the fact that it was built entirely by students from Lehigh Career and Technical Institute (LCTI).

LCTI had originally put the house out for bid; however, no winning offers were received. The house then was listed for $349,900 with Coldwell Banker Hearthside Realtor Dorothy Bealer.

Now LCTI and a family interested in buying the house will be in Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas Sept. 23 to find out if, in fact, LCTI can sell the home. The fact that the home had been out for bid at one time could be a sticking point.

From start to finish or “foundation to frame,” students representing nine sending school districts and eight instructional labs including carpentry, cabinetmaking, plumbing, electrical, masonry, painting and decorating, landscaping and environmental design, heating, air conditioning and refrigeration, and the adult heavy equipment lab worked together for several years to complete LCTI’s 32nd student-built house.

In addition to superior craftsmanship, the home features an “aging in-place” or “universal design” concept wherein everything in the home is designed to promote accessibility and convenience by everyone regardless of their age, ability or status in life. There are three-foot-wide openings, extra-wide hallways, a curbless roll-in/transfer shower in the master bath and outlets 18 to 22 inches above the floor.

Project Manager John Wynn oversaw the students throughout all phases of construction. He credited Curtis Schneck for his constant support and advice, along with Ann Lett, of Barry Isett and Associates, for her continued expertise as being invaluable in the process.

“Mr. Schneck has helped LCTI tremendously over the years. He’s on the Occupational Advisory Council, which helps to advise the school as far as construction concerns. He has been a dream,” said Wynn. “We treasure him and when we have construction questions, we go to him.

“Inspector Ann Lett was incredible. She helped us constantly and was wonderful. She made sure we did it right,” Wynn said.

The home took three years to complete, which means many students can say they were a part of the construction.

Roofing, siding and framing were done by carpentry students. Landscaping, brick work and tile setting were done by the masonry students. Electric work was completed by electrical students, and painting and trim work were accomplished by interior design students, Wynn said.

At one of the open houses held in June, Wynn, who is also a special education teacher at LCTI, said he was excited to have his students actively involved in many aspects of the building of this house.

“This is the first time we really got the special education kids seriously involved, and I’m very proud of them,” Wynn said. “My students actually came up with their own jig to build the basement stairs. The stairs were then installed by the carpentry students.

“The kitchen cabinets were handcrafted by the cabinetry class and installed by carpenters.

“The masonry students did the tile, landscaping and brick work,” Wynn said as he displayed the backyard rock landscaping. “It looks like a golf course.”

Wynn said the best part of this experience is the kids get to learn soft skills like integrity, honesty and work ethic, all things they need to perform their jobs in the future.

Many students and their families attended the open house.

A few local students talked to The Press.

Jacob Wertz, a Whitehall High School student, worked on laying and grouting the tile in the kitchen.

“It’s my first year out here, and I’m glad I got to be a part of it,” he said.

Walker Turczyn, who has since graduated from Emmaus High School, was a major worker on the deck. “I actually got to cut most of those pieces. I did a lot of the railing, too,” Turczyn said.

Also from Emmaus, recent graduate Kyle Hess marvels, “It’s amazing how you see it go from a piece of board to all of these amazing things.”

Devin Moyer, a 2015 graduate of Parkland High School, worked on the electrical.

Neighbors from across the street, Tom and Mary Bechtold, stopped by the open house that evening. They said after three years of watching the kids come by bus to work on the house every day, they were excited to see the finished product.

“It’s nice to see it all come together,” said Mary. “It’s a really nice piece of property.”