South Carolina High School Students Design, Build Tiny Homes for Homeless

A group of architecture students at a Greenville, South Carolina high school are learning lessons in empathy and collaboration while helping to construct a tiny home that will eventually become home to a member of their community.

The Beginning of a Collaborative Effort

The Tiny House Collaborative started more than seven years ago in Catherine Smith-Gates’ classroom at the Fine Arts Center. Back then, it was just a conversation she started with her students about how “as architects we have an innate ability to help facilitate a solution to the problem.” Smith-Gates later invited a representative from the Greenville Homeless Alliance – an organization “fiercely committed to reducing homelessness in Greenville County” – to talk to students about people who have experienced homelessness.

Building with Support

The collaborative has gained sponsorship help from architectural firm Craig Gaulden Davis and construction company Clancy & Theys whose professionals helped students at the Fine Arts Center “further their understanding of home design and construction as they conceptualize tiny home layouts and build models.” Last week, building on their first tiny home began with high school students from nearby Bonds Career Center assisting in the build.

A Design with Purpose

At 168-square feet, the “Murphy House” features a fold-down bed, custom cabinetry, a two-burner stovetop, and a convection oven/microwave/air fryer combo unit. The unit also has sustainable features like operable solar powered skylights, operable windows placed strategically for ventilation, and a mini-split HVAC system. The design was based on interviews with people who have experienced homelessness to ensure it suits their needs.

Empowering Students for the Future

Students involved in this unique project are gaining hands-on experiences in potential careers. Anne Lee Buck, Coordinator of Community Collaboration for Greenville County Schools, mentioned that students are “getting their hands dirty at the high school level and actually doing the work that they might be doing in a field that they choose.” After being an educational exhibit, the tiny home will become the permanent residence of a Greenville neighbor.

After its tenure as an exhibit, the Murphy House will be set on permanent foundations in a new tiny house community to be the home of a Greenville neighbor.