PolyHouse project: Remodeling with a purpose

South County Beat: Collegians build to aid disabled man

By Nick Wilson & Dawn White

A Nipomo family with one member who uses a wheelchair received a free remodeling from a team of Cal Poly students earlier this month.

Ken and Mary Barrette— who live off Pomeroy Road on Nine Oaks Lane—were presented with their new home earlier this month.

This was the fifth year of Poly- House project, in which university students remodel a local home under the guidance of instructor Roya Javadpour, an associate professor in the industrial and manufacturing engineering department.

Thirteen Cal Poly students spent about six weeks planning and six days working on the home. The project included new tile flooring, kitchen cabinets, windows, French doors and wiring.

Students raised money for the work, as well as numerous in-kind donations from local businesses. Donations included material for countertops, carpet and tile.

Cal Poly chose the home from a group of possible homes recommended by local nonprofit organizations.

Javadpour said the students decide which home they’d like to work on after she narrows the choices based on complexity of the construction.

“After debating the pros and cons of each house and a high level of assessment of risks involved, a class consensus is reached,” she said.

Ken Barrette, 50, used to be a general and electrical contractor, according to his wife. Now he must use a wheelchair because of what doctors believe to be a chemical exposure that led to loss of function of his limbs. Barrette now has minimal use of his hands and legs.

The Barrettes have owned their home for 20 years. They have two daughters, Selyn, 20, and Krista, 17, who live at home.

The goal was to make the home more accessible and comfortable for Ken Barrette.

“They did an amazing job, and it was really a gift,” said Mary Barrette, who runs a doll-restoration business at home called All for a Doll.

The students spent the final weekend working late into the night touching up paint, vacuuming and finishing a small countertop that allows Ken to drink from it without assistance.

“This is by far one of the most interesting classes I’ve taken,” said Dena Malloy, one of the students. “Not only did I learn about the subject, but it encourages all of us to give something back to the community.”

Malloy said the family was very welcoming to the students, who came and went from their home this quarter as they made measurements in preparation for their construction.

The family stayed in a hotel during the time the students worked on the project.

Malloy said there were “quite a few wet eyes in the crowd” when the home was presented May 17.

“The family seemed so happy,” Malloy said. “It was great to be able to see something done for people who really need it.”

Javadpour said the project —which follows Cal Poly’s “learn by doing” philosophy —wouldn’t be possible without the help of the donors.

For more on the project, visit www.polyhouse.org .