Shelby County Habitat for Humanity to Break World Record Set By New Zealand and Build The 'World's Fastest House'
PRNewswire
What: Shelby County Habitat for Humanity, the Alabama Associated General Contractors (AGC) and its Young Constructor's Forum and other sponsors will build the "world's fastest house," breaking the world record set in New Zealand in 2000. When: Thursday, Dec. 12, 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Dedication ceremony: 3:40 p.m. to 5:20 p.m. Where: 39 New Hope Drive, Montevallo Homeowner: Bonnie Lilly, a nursing technician and single mother Sponsors: This project has community-wide participation from approximately 75 sponsors, including churches, nonprofit organizations, professional associations, businesses, schools and civic groups. Major sponsors include the Alabama AGC (Associated General Contractors of America) and its Young Constructor's Forum, Lowe's Home Improvement, Alabama Power Service Organization, AMICA Insurance, BellSouth Pioneers, Brice Building Company and Wheeler's Building Materials. VIPs: Millard Fuller, founder and president of Habitat International from Americus, Georgia, will be onsite and available to autograph his latest book, "Building Materials for Life." Vonetta Flowers, 2001 Olympic Gold Medallist, will sound the starting gun for construction. History: The idea for the world's fastest house came from Mark Davis, a local inventor and businessman who is on Shelby County Habitat's Board. Davis visited New Zealand on business in 2000 and learned the Habitat organization there had set the world record for building a house -- in just 3 hours, 44 minutes, 59 seconds. Davis challenged the Shelby County Habitat for Humanity chapter to beat the world record. The Alabama AGC team also took on the challenge, and has spent hundreds of hours designing and planning the construction step-by-step. The New Zealand team shared a video of the house being built, which the Alabama AGC team has studied like a football team studying a play-by-play tape. They plan to build the three- bedroom, two-bath home in Montevallo in 3 hours, 14 minutes. The last record set in Alabama for building a Habitat for Humanity home was 23 hours, 30 minutes, set by Alabama Power in April 2000 on the first anniversary of the F-5 tornado that hit Jefferson County. A storage building will be built by members of the media. Key events: 9:00 a.m. Hospitality and Information Tents open. 10:45 a.m. Vonetta Flowers takes post with Millard Fuller, Doug Demmons, Mark Davis, Chad Calhoun and major sponsors. 11:00 a.m. Vonetta Flowers sounds starting gun and clock starts for construction countdown. 11:30 a.m. Mini-build of storage shed by media begins. Noon Lunch is available for spectators and volunteers. 1:15 p.m. BellSouth Pioneers host Millard Fuller for book signing at Hospitality Tent. 2:30 p.m. (or before) Build is complete. Millard Fuller and Mark Davis speak. 3:30 p.m. New Zealand representative presents trophy. 3:40 p.m. Dedication ceremony begins. 5:25 p.m. Santa Claus and his elves pay a visit to the Lilly residence and other families at New Hope Village. 5:30 p.m. Lowe's Home Improvement hosts Millard Fuller book-signing at its Valleydale Road location. 6:20 p.m. Christmas lighting ceremony and music at Lilly residence. Driving directions: From Birmingham, take I-65 South to Shelby County Airport exit #234. Turn left off exit and go to Route 12, which will dead-end at Route 22. Turn right onto Route 22 and go to the stoplight at Route 119. Turn left and go into downtown Montevallo. Just past McDonald's and Subway, turn right onto Route 10 (Middle Street). Look for Habitat for Humanity parking sign. Contacts: Doug Demmons, Executive Director of Shelby County Habitat: (205) 969-3271 Mark Davis, Board of Directors, Shelby County Habitat: (205) 663-7006 Bill Caton, Alabama AGC: (205) 252-8021 Chad Calhoun, Project Manager, Brice Building Co.: (205) 930-9911 Contact Erin Drummond of Shelby County Habitat for Humanity to talk with Bonnie Lilly, recipient of the "World's Fastest House": (205) 838-1009 Alabama Power, a subsidiary of Atlanta-based Southern Company PRNewswire -- Dec. 6 SOURCE: Alabama Power Company |