CFCC Students Build Homes Starting Fall 2026

Cape Fear Community College will launch a construction project this fall that puts students to work building residential homes on the North Campus.

The first 1,325-square-foot house, with three bedrooms and two bathrooms, will break ground in Fall 2026 and take four semesters to complete. It will meet building codes for 130-mph winds. The college plans to build two to three homes simultaneously once the program expands.

Students from 12 CFCC programs will work on the project: carpentry, construction management, electrical systems technology, HVAC, architectural technology, interior design, land surveying, landscaping, welding, mechanical engineering technology, and AutoCAD. Carpentry students might frame walls in one semester while electricians install wiring in the next.

The homes will follow real-world construction timelines and industry standards. Upon completion, the college will sell them at public auction.

"Students will gain real-world experience working together across multiple disciplines while contributing to a project that directly serves our community," CFCC President Jim Morton said.

Community members and businesses interested in supporting the project can find information at cfcc.edu/foundation/live-house-project.