Students Build Home in Rapid City Partnership
Western Dakota Tech students and the Black Hills Homebuilders Association are partnering on a new three-bedroom home project.
Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in Home Renovation
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Construction students at Western Dakota Tech are gaining hands-on experience by building a three-bedroom house on the Rapid City campus. This project is a collaboration with the Black Hills Homebuilders Association, which is financing the build.
Why it matters
The initiative serves as an investment in the next generation of trades professionals and aims to grow the skilled workforce throughout the Black Hills region.
The house features three bedrooms and is being constructed on the Western Dakota Tech campus in Rapid City. Once finished, the structure will be relocated to New Underwood to be put on the market.
The players
Western Dakota Tech
This is a technical college that offers various vocational training programs to students in South Dakota.
Black Hills Homebuilders Association
This trade organization represents professional builders and works to support the regional construction industry.
The details
Students from various trade programs are working on the home throughout the school year while local builders provide professional expertise and career guidance. The Black Hills Homebuilders Association is overseeing the entire project and facilitating connections between students and industry professionals.
Timeline
Construction takes place during the 2026-2027 school year.
Culture Shift
This project reflects the broader societal shift toward prioritizing practical, hands-on apprenticeship models over traditional classroom-only education. By integrating direct industry mentorship into the curriculum, the program mirrors successful vocational training efforts aimed at modernizing the skilled trade workforce.
Residents of New Underwood can expect a new residential property to hit the local market following the home's relocation after the school year. For those interested in the industry, the program highlights a direct pathway for students to secure mentorship from established professionals in the region.
The takeaway
Students looking for career opportunities in construction benefit from real-world project management and direct networking with established contractors. This collaborative model demonstrates how educational institutions can effectively help address local labor shortages in the skilled trades.
Further reading
Learn more about local efforts to improve housing supply and vocational training on the Rapid City Home Renovation page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Kotatv.
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