My name is Kyle Goodrich, and this spring I will be graduating with a bachelors of science degree in construction management. This past fall, Tiffany Pupah brought up the idea of building a Tiny House here on Michigan State's campus. Crazy? Yes. Rewarding? Definitely! To witness the passion she expressed while speaking of the idea, I knew immediately she meant business. I am currently serving on the USGBC executive board with Tiffany, and I know when she puts her mind to something, it will get done. 

In the fall we sat in Tiny House building workshops, hosted by professionals who design and construct these structures for a living. At this time, it was an informative learning experience, but the process did not seem real until the materials were first delivered on March 1st. This semester, every Monday morning, we met to discuss pre-construction planning and our plan of attack in order to complete this project in just 6 weeks. We finished in 6 weeks!

I firmly believe we finished on time due to the outstanding group of students and faculty involved with this project. Dr. Crawford and Dr. Berghorn, somehow found time Friday-Sunday to oversee and assist in the building process at the MSU Surplus store. I couldn't ask for a better learning experience than to help contribute to the building process of the first Tiny House in Michigan State history. 

We had to adapt to building conditions and in some cases, I had to learn on the spot while working on tasks that I've yet to be exposed to. I was able to witness the project from the beginning stages and there were many takeaways from this experience. I was involved with work involving carpentry, electrical, plumbing, and finish work. A project to this scale creates a beneficial learning environment for those involved, and we found out each square foot counts. We were able to get our eyes on various construction activities all within 177 square feet of living space! "That's a Tiny House!"
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By: Kylie Gustafson
Since the beginning of the build, the employees at MSU Surplus and Recycling Center have been outstanding supporters of Sparty’s Cabin by allowing us to utilize space in the recycling center as our build site. We are very appreciative and thankful for their support and help throughout the build. After hearing the unfortunate news about the fire at the Recycling Center, concern for the safety and health of the employees at the center was our first priority. We soon found out that everyone in the building was able to evacuate quickly and safely which we are very thankful for. Then the question came, how is Sparty’s Cabin?
We patiently waited to hear of the damage to the structure that would have been caused by the fire. With biting nails, we discovered the house was still standing! We came to learn that the fire caused a lot of smoke and the sprinkler system to go off, which caused most of the damage to the lumber and materials. However, we faced this challenge head on and quickly worked together to come up with solutions. We moved the construction of Sparty’s Cabin into April’s winter weather to continue working under a tent on the lot of the Surplus and Recycling Center. And the build pressed on! The students, faculty, and volunteers have been working night and day complete Sparty’s Cabin. We couldn’t have overcome challenges without them and we are thankful for all the support and hard work that they have dedicated to the completion of Sparty’s Cabin!

Hello! My name is Tammy. I am a senior in the Forestry program at MSU. Go Green! I am doing an internship with MSU Shadows and I am helping make a few items for Sparty's Cabin. These items are a countertop, door, 3 shelves and a ladder. Each one was made from Urban wood.  No need to go to the store for lumber! You might wonder what Urban wood is? Urban wood is any tree that resides within the city. Urban meaning city, well you get the idea. Urban wood is not being cut down because we need or want the wood. It is cut down because it becomes a problem, either from disease, death, hazardous to people or they need to be removed because of new construction.  There are approximately 300 trees on MSU campus that are removed each year.  These trees are normally chipped or even burned. Instead of taking the wood to the chipper, it is being reclaimed by MSU Shadows.
 Yes, all of the items I am helping to make are made from trees that were once on campus. Go Green! MSU Shadows is not the only company using Urban wood. Many people have realized the benefits of reclaiming unwanted wood. Using Urban wood can reduce the lumber taken out of our forests, because we have another way to get wood for our needs. These trees will be taken down regardless if they are reclaimed so, why not help our planet? Another benefit of getting trees from the city is diversity. Many trees are planted for aesthetic value, which brings in species that would not naturally grow in the forest. A good example of this is at MSU, they have many species on campus, for instance Siberian Elm. This means that there are more unique types of wood that can be used, that a person in Michigan would not normally have access to.
 Having trees in the city help offset the emissions that are let off into the environment. It has been said that a tree can store about a ton of carbon. If they are not reclaimed, that carbon will go back into the air as soon at it is burned. Reusing this lumber can prolong the carbon storage for many years.
 Urban wood can also be great for the economy. Reclaiming wood can create jobs and bring products. An arborist would be needed to harvest the wood, a Sawyer to prep the wood, a woodworker to make the fantastic products, a person to sell the wood products, and last but not least, people to buy the products. So far MSU Shadows have saved an average of 102,900 pounds of wood! Can you imagine if every city reclaimed their wood?

Hello, my name is Hanbing Liang, and I am a senior landscape architecture and urban planning student at MSU. The tiny house project was presented to me at the beginning of the year after I heard from Tiffany, the student lead of this project, and I became interested in involving myself in this amazing opportunity.
For the first half of the project, I was working on graphics and information about the Tiny Home – Sparty’s Cabin. After completing in depth research, I realized that the tiny home concept isn’t just building a small wooden house that has basic living functions, but is about learning to live as a minimalist, becoming serious about saving energy, and creating a sustainable environment.
The building process started since early March and after more than three weeks of gaining personal experience with the project, my perception has changed a lot from the beginning. I was definitely looking for some hands on opportunities, but I never expected how hard it would be. As a landscape architecture student, we were involved with construction design and drawings since the second year of school. I was very confused by the time when we were assigned to do a deck design. To be honest, I didn’t even quite understand how joists are actually connected even though I made the drawings. This building experience recalled my memory back then, and finally made it clear to me about what the actual construction looks like.
The first day on site, we were trying to attach the flashing to the trailer, and the tool we used was a drill. What we have often seen on TV, is professional home builders holding a drill and quickly accomplishing their task. I thought, how hard would that be? When I was actually holding the drill and trying to nail into the trailer, it was quite difficult. The angle you point down should always stay perpendicular as you drill through. The pressure and vibrations from the power will eventually make your hands shake. Although the first day wasn’t on the right track, but it did make me think that construction isn’t as simple as just following directions. It involves challenges throughout the entire process. The plans we draw as landscape architects have a critical part in the project. One wrong measure on paper takes more than a day to correct on site.
 
Being able to touch, feel and work with all the things I’ve seen on paper is like a class I will never get bored of. The knowledge I have gained from helping with the Sparty's Cabin project has helped me to better understand my field in landscape architecture and my work better.  

Since the project has started, I have been realizing how the students are connecting through building. We have to communicate what we need clearly for safety, and to ensure we are doing things properly. For example, we need to communicate what size a board needs to be cut to ensure it will fit. Also, students are working in extremely closely, there is little room for personal space during this build! Watching one student hold insulation down while the other saws, it is easy to see that they are not only building a house, but they are also team building. So far, this has been my favorite part of the project. It is really fun to meet and work with so many new faces from other majors, and learning to effectively communicate while making lasting friendships. ​

My name is Ryan Daniels and I am one of several students helping with the construction of “Sparty’s Cabin” and I am also photographing the build.  I came to the project with a unique background as I am currently a junior in the Civil Engineering Program but also have a degree in Studio Art from MSU.  As an artist, one of my many interests include creating functional works of art from found or repurposed objects.  I have also done some research on tiny houses and have seriously considered living in one some day.  So, when I found out about the project earlier this semester, I was eager to learn more.
 
I wasn’t part of the planning of the project, so I really had no idea what to expect when I volunteered to get involved.  Now, having seen the plans, I am excited to see the build come together.  My hope from the beginning has been that this project would allow me to further develop my skills as an artist and an engineering student and to meet like-minded people in the process.  Some of the best relationships I developed over the years have come from my involvement in extracurricular groups and activities.  Although we are only a few weeks into the build, everyone has been extremely enthusiastic and great to work with.
 
Perhaps the most important aspect of this project, is the educational value it brings to anyone involved in the process, from planning to building.  In my experience, nothing compares to learning by doing.  You gain an intimate knowledge of a process and the intricacies involved and you become invested in the project’s success.  For “Sparty’s Cabin”, some students will also have an opportunity to help manage individual work crews on portions of the build.  This is a terrific opportunity to take on a leadership role, something that is a valuable experience to draw on regardless what career a student may choose. 
 
The recent “Tiny Home Movement” has provided a lot of exposure to alternative living spaces and this is an amazing opportunity to learn about it firsthand.  I don’t think tiny homes are for everyone, but I would encourage people to explore exactly what size living space they truly need. When it is finished, “Sparty’s Cabin” will be a great resource to show people the many benefits of smaller living spaces and just how unique and beautiful they can be while still providing all the necessities. 

​One of the crucial steps to building a tiny house is finding a place construction site. This can be tricky depending on local zoning, HOAs, and other obstacles. Luckily, we are building Sparty’s Cabin on campus, meaning we are building on private property owned by MSU. With the proper permission, choosing a build site was simplified.
 
We had two options for potential build sites. Option A was MSU’s Turf Grass facilities in a large pole barn. This site offered us beautiful views of south campus, a sheltered environment and friendly employees. However, the garage door was only 12’ tall, and our tiny house will be 13’5” tall (no taller due to road restrictions). It’s a good thing we noticed this before starting the build!
 
Option B was at the MSU Surplus and Recycling Center. This large warehouse is heated, provides shelter, and has a wonderful lounge space for us to take breaks/meet in. We are working in the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), or the “MERF”. This is where all the recyclables are crushed and packed together. This warehouse has a 20’ door, so our tiny house will easily make it out. The Recycling Center is open on Fridays, so we have to be careful when we are working. We wear bright construction vests so the fork lift drivers can clearly see us.
 
It’s really interesting building in this space, and once you get past the unique aroma, it has a wonderful atmosphere. We are all enjoying learning more about recycling. The break room has a “no trash” policy, and has challenged our sorting skills and made us more aware of our waste. We also have been recycling our construction waste! My favorite part about working in the Recycling Center is getting the natural light from all the windows in the lounge, and opening the garage doors in the MERF to make the most of this spring weather!