We can help with your project

The School of Constructive Arts is a laboratory for innovation, but innovations mean little if not utilized beyond our campus. Recognizing the demand for sophisticated environmental design and building techniques we have begun to offer services for hire. Partnering with SCA put’s or combined experience to the service of your project, while helping us fund the next wave of research and education. Our design, analysis, and construction services help people and communities build to the highest environmental standards, using local materials, and cost-effective time tested approaches. Our team has decades of combined experience and partnerships with specialists enable us to draw upon an even broader wealth of expertise. Beyond consultation we are investing in equipment to improve the performance and efficiency of earthen construction. We have begun to manufacture and sell compressed earth blocks and plan to offer additional construction services on select projects. Whether you are just starting to dream of living off-grid or have a century old building that needs care, we want to make your project a success. Request a free consultation or learn more about our Project Planning and Design, Regenerative Systems, Earth Building, Land Repair, and Construction services.

Request a free consultation or learn more about our Compressed Earth Block, Project Planning and Design, Regenerative Systems, Earth Building, and Construction Services.

Compressed Earth Block

We have invested in equipment and facilities to manufacture environmentally sound construction materials locally in the Big Bend. The most significant of these is compressed earth block (CEB) which combines the environmental, comfort, and health benefits of earthen construction with the efficiency of modern manufacturing. Compressed earth block walls are fireproof, bug-proof, sound-proof, and bullet-proof. They mitigate extreme changes in heat and humidity, creating a comfortable indoor environment, and earth blocks are healthy for the environment as a whole. They utilize readily available, local materials, require very little energy or water to manufacture, generate no harmful waste, last for centuries, and create energy-efficient buildings.

We are establishing an earth block production plant and are beginning to produce earth blocks on the Terlingua Ranch. If you are interested in building with earth block contact us for details.

Project Planning and Design

Buildings that are whole and alive require care and attention from the start. We offer project planning services connecting our holistic approach to foundational decisions about spaces and activities, size and cost, and site and phasing. When these decisions are made well the architectural design develops naturally as spaces are tailored to life within, to one another, to the sun, wind, water, land, and life outside. Construction methods and whole-cycle building systems can be provisioned from the start rather than added on after the fact. Employing regenerative design at the outset not only creates better spaces, but it also saves time and money during construction and over the life of the building. Retrofits and remodels are expensive. We can help you get it right from the start.

Regenerative Systems

Our team has experience in the design and implementation of a range of regenerative building systems and land restoration practices including:

Rainwater Catchment
Greywater Recycling
Waterless Waste Management
Off-grid Energy Systems
Natural and Recycled Materials
Heating, Cooling, and Ventilation with Sun, Wind, and Water
Surface Water Diversion and Erosion Control
Low Water Irrigation
Permaculture Design

There are many resources (see Learn page) and we encourage everyone to experiment on their own. That said, a little advice, technical understanding, and prior experience can go a long way. We offer ‘tech support’ for the DIY builder as well as complete design and planning services for those who want to streamline their project. Building for a healthy environment does not have to be an expensive and complicated process. Email us to schedule a free consultation.

Earth Building

Earthen construction has been a major focus of the School of Constructive Arts from the start. We have built with and hosted workshops on adobe, cob, earthbag, and compressed earth block. When Jim Hallock joined our team in 2022 he brought 30 years of experience and a new level of sophistication to SCA. If you are interested in building with Earth we can help in a variety of ways.

Design Review and Construction Details
Soil Analysis
Stabilization and Mix Design
Cost Estimating
Building Techniques, Tools, and Equipment
On-site Advice and Training

Construction Services

We have been investing in equipment and facilities to manufacture environmentally sound construction materials locally in the Big Bend. The most significant of these is compressed earth block (CEB) which combines the environmental, comfort, and health benefits of earthen construction with the efficiency of modern manufacturing. Compressed earth block walls are fireproof, bug-proof, sound-proof, and bullet-proof. They mitigate extreme changes in heat and humidity, creating a comfortable indoor environment, and earth blocks are healthy for the environment as a whole. They utilize readily available, local materials, require very little energy or water to manufacture, generate no harmful waste, last for centuries, and create energy-efficient buildings.

We are establishing an earth block production plant and are beginning to produce earth blocks on the Terlingua Ranch. If you are interested in building with earth block contact us for details.

We are planning to be able to mobilize our team and equipment to offer direct construction assistance on select projects. We would act as a subcontractor providing specialized assistance on earth building and regenerative systems that most general contractors might not be able to provide. We will focus on projects that serve the community and exhibit a high standard of environmental design. On such projects it may be possible to engage the local community and visiting students in the building process. We are not able to offer construction services at this time but would be glad to discuss your project so that we can accommodate it in the future.