BCT is this year again offering a summer pre-college program for high-schoolers that are interested in construction and in finding out how to make buildings sustainable! Rising 10th–12th graders get a feel for what college is like while earning two (2) college credits that can be applied towards the Building and Construction Technology Program (BCT) at UMass, or others. Enroll NOW to save your child’s spot in these exciting programs!
BCT’s Sustainable Building Lab
Discover how buildings shape the world – and how to make them better!
Join us for two action-packed weeks at UMass Amherst where high school students will dive into the world of building design, construction, and sustainability. This isn’t just sitting in a classroom – it’s about designing, building, and exploring the future of the built environment.
This pre-college course is dedicated to investigating sustainability in the Built Environment with a series of hands-on activities that will explore:
- Digital design using the computer-aided design (CAD) software Sketchup
- Energy efficiency in residential and commercial buildings
- Water conservation strategies
- Sustainable material uses in contemporary buildings
- How the UMass campus incorporates elements of sustainability
- Analyzing buildings for sustainability and identifying solutions that address any shortcomings
Daily activities will include short field trips to a variety of locations, including sustainable material manufacturers, various recently built campus buildings, the UMass Power Plant, a Living Building, and the Trimble Technology Lab. Other locations on campus will illustrate energy efficiency, water conservation, and material use and disposal will be explored.
Throughout this program, we will explore the issues of sustainability and resilience from the perspective of the built environment. This will consist of a series of experiential learning exercises where students are exposed to examples of sustainability on campus and locations that are a short drive away. This program will examine the built environment and how humans interact with it.
When? July 12 – 25, 2026
Where? This course is offered at the UMass Amherst campus with commuter and residential options available.
Instructor: Michael McNally