Students Begin Construction on New Rapid City Home
Western Dakota Tech and local builders are partnering to construct a three-bedroom home for future sale in New Underwood.
Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in Home Renovation
Live Poll
Do you believe trade-based apprenticeship programs improve the quality of local technical education?
Western Dakota Tech students are building a three-bedroom home on the Rapid City campus in partnership with the Black Hills Homebuilders Association. Once completed, the residence will be relocated to New Underwood and offered for sale.
Why it matters
This project functions as a hands-on training investment designed to address the regional skilled labor shortage in the Black Hills area. By linking students with professional builders, the initiative aims to build a sustainable pipeline of local construction talent.
The construction project features a three-bedroom home design built by Western Dakota Tech trades students. While the home is built in Rapid City, the final sale will occur after the unit is moved to its permanent site in New Underwood.
The players
Western Dakota Tech
A technical college offering trades programs that prepare students for careers in the construction industry.
Black Hills Homebuilders Association
A professional trade organization that supports the local construction industry and oversees student workforce initiatives.
The details
Students from various trade programs gain field experience by constructing the home on the college campus throughout the school year. Simultaneously, professionals from the Black Hills Homebuilders Association provide mentorship and technical guidance. This structure allows students to learn building techniques while working directly under the supervision of experienced local contractors.
Timeline
2026-2027 school year: Students build the three-bedroom home on campus.
The Home Front
This project reflects a broader industry trend of trade-school partnerships aimed at alleviating the national shortage of construction professionals. It specifically addresses local housing supply constraints by fostering the next generation of skilled builders.
Prospective buyers in the New Underwood area should monitor local housing listings for the future availability of this student-built home. Residents interested in the trades or seeking professional work should keep the Black Hills Homebuilders Association in mind for local networking.
The takeaway
This partnership provides a unique opportunity for aspiring tradespeople to gain field experience while directly increasing local housing stock. If you are interested in the final home sale, consider contacting a local real estate agent to stay updated on new listings in New Underwood.
Further reading
Learn more about local efforts to improve housing availability in our Home Renovation section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Kotatv.
Live Poll
Do you believe trade-based apprenticeship programs improve the quality of local technical education?
