What Does PolyHouse Mean?

Justin wrote: "It was made clear from the beginning that all of us would have to step outside of our comfort zone. Truer words have never been spoken."

He's talking about PolyHouse, the home renovation service project undertaken by IME's project management class to help a local family or individual struggling with issues related to disabilities. During three weekends last May, the PolyHouse team renovated the home of Simon and Ruby Todd, whose son Caleb has achondroplasia dwarfism and hydrocephalus. Read more about PolyHouse 2011 in the words of the Cal Poly student participants.

Tyler said: "A sore back, aching muscles and sunburn are an inexpensive price to pay to finally be able to stand back and look at what this class and community accomplished."

Directed by Dr. Liz Schlemer, the project involved 28 students, six weeks of planning, six days of construction, and $160,000 in donations of cash, building materials and other assistance. In addition to providing much appreciated assistance to a family in need, the PolyHouse class gives students hands-on experience planning and managing a highly complex technical project that involves fundraising, scheduling, supply management, team recruitment, resource allocation, time and cost budgeting, risk assessment, task coordination, project monitoring and post-project assessment.

Kaitlin noted: "My favorite part of it all now is looking at the news reports that say we remodeled a bathroom for Caleb, got an exterior steel structure, and even had time to throw in a new kitchen! Oh if only they knew!"

Mike said: "[I]t was awesome contributing to the local community and watching contractors and volunteers coordinate their efforts to give back to deserving people."

John wrote: "I feel like I have grown so much as a person. I also hold so much respect for my fellow classmates. The dedication and motivation each person possessed inspired me to continuously push harder throughout the project."

Tyler: "I am honored to be a part of such a great and inspiring project and will never forget the great times I had during this quarter. I have learned so much about myself and cannot thank my fellow classmates and community members enough for making Polyhouse 2010 the great success that it is!"

The quotes above show that PolyHouse means much more than its stated goals and objectives. In fact, it touched the lives and perspectives of the students involved in ways that they never anticipated.

Read more about what PolyHouse means in the class blog posted at http://polyhouse.wordpress.com/.

Return to the Winter 2011 Newsletter.