Smart Homes/Smart Offices is no stranger to the design and installation of custom home automation systems and computer networks. From home theater projects to corporate meeting spaces that include video conferencing and building control systems, SHSO has seen and done it all. But they’d never done a Habitat build before.
“Every day we help bring technology and all the amenities and benefits that accompany automation control systems into people’s home or workplace”, said Smart Homes President, John Gilluly. “We have a very family-focused and community-minded culture at Smart Homes. When the idea of ‘giving back’ by participating in a Habitat for Humanity build was brought up at one of our weekly planning meetings, it was never a question of if we wanted to do it, but when. The team couldn’t wait to get started!”
We didn’t pull wire, set up a network or program lighting scenes like we do on a typical job. We thought it would be a lot more fun to hang drywall! It didn’t matter that we didn’t have a lot of experience between us. The Habitat site manager and contracting crew were extremely patient with our questions, thorough in explaining the process, and they made it fun. By the end of our shift, we completed two bedrooms, and partially finished both a bathroom and laundry room.
We were especially touched by the blessings and inspirational verses that the crew before us had written on the studs we were dry-walling over–words meant to guide and protect the family that lives there. It was truly a humbling experience.
