Building Education Center

August 2013 The Building Education Center is back in business. Find it at
. It is being organized by some of the past instructors. Contact them directly after week day work hours.
They are looking to reconnect with other instructors and add classes as demand merits. Pass the word along.
James Gillett

Building Education Center, and its predecessor, the Owner Builder Center is/​was central for motivated people to learn skills and get support in their building maintenance and projects. Everything I know about home repair, remodeling, and building I learned from them and the wonderful instructors, many of whom I have hired for my projects. These professionals treat you like an equal, and do not condescend.
The «deschooling society» and «detooling society» movements began with the counterculture in the nineteen sixties and seventies. One of its proponents was the writer and thinker Ivan Illich, and the movement aimed to make the tools for modern living accessible to the motivated learner and do-​it-​yourselfer. Such institutions as Nolo Press were part of this movement.
With their help and support I have rehabilitated an old house and added a new garage/​loft.

YES! BEC was a great place for DIYers. Pam has some great suggestions for the new BEC that is trying to get off the ground.
Go to

GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
Please please UPDATE WEBSITE to let us/​public/​your fans know what is going on. Web site remains up — no current classes — if you call phone number on website referred by phone co to 510 540 0155 new phone number — but that number is being answered by someone «taking calls» — says re BBEC «they lost their lease» (I thought they owned that building.) Person taking calls has no! (none) information about when or if classes will resume. Only suggestion from person «taking calls» was «watch the web site» Person running/​managing BBEC never very friendly — always a bit disorganized — mailing of list of dates/​classes chronically arrived after classes had already begun (not a good way to get folks in to take classes). I used to love the ads though in the paper Class Brochure and learned a lot about local businesses from those ads. Any one advertising in the BBEC brochure I trusted. Instructors really excellent. Long ago thought person running should have created something like THE BBEC Foundation — accepting donations, holding fundraisers, giving scholarships, having memberships (eg $ 100 a year and discount on classes), having volunteers/​members help with mailing registrations and should have created a board and should maybe have partnered with local hardware stores even Home Depot and accepted funding/​support/​referrals from them and should have had a list of trades people say on a bulletin board willing to come to homes to consult and advise students for money (say $ 50−60/hour or okay $ 100 hour) — easier to risk do-​it-​yourself if you know if you get completely stuck can call in/​hire someone to consult however briefly at your own place. Have learned a lot — a lot!!! from BBEC — have taken many classes there and want (wanted?) to take more. BBEC has been around a long time — always worried might go under if didn’t become foundation or something with solid organization and financial underpinnings. If it has gone under, it is tragedy (heart breaker) for the Do-​It-​Your-​Selfers all over Northern California. Hope some resurrection will occur soon. Perhaps one of you instructors could post an update here — Beverly, Glen, Tony, Andrus — Please, someone let us know what is happening. Inquiring minds want to know

This [[was!!!]] a wonderful place to learn about EVERY aspect of home improvement, whether from its half-​day seminars, to full-​day, to two-​day (all weekend), or the weeks-​long homeowners’ intensives.
The professionals teaching here are often some of the best in their fields, or at the very least well-​respected and experienced. Nonprofit with good prices.
BUT: The phone is disconnected, and the dates for classes on the website appear to be from last year.
?
Why not at least update the website to reflect what is truly going on? A reorg? Forever gone? Extended sabbatical? C’mon, spill it!

Fantastic experience. Glen the instructor is great. The hands on opportunities and participation of classmates was both informative and invaluable. I’ve already saved the entire cost of the class fees by doing stuff around the house. Now, it’s all gravy. :)
Also want to second Kevin G.‘s comments about the usefulness of the classes. Look forward to my own first intensive.

This is a great place for homeowners to learn about the many trades involved in building. Many classes have a hands-​on component to introduce you to tools and techniques. Even if you are not planning on doing the work yourself, the information will help you be an educated consumer. Knowing what to look for is critical to getting the job done right.
My wife and I have taken the tile class, the plumbing class, and the finish carpentry class. While all the classes were informative, some were better organized than others. The instructors are seasoned professionals. They have plenty of useful information and tips for even the most experienced DIYer.
I think the place got started as a resource for women who were too often intimidated by the building trades. That being said, the classes seem to have an about even male-​female ratio. The place has a friendly, co-​op atmosphere.