PITTSBORO - The Chatham Cottage, handcrafted by Central Carolina Community College students enrolled in the college's Building Construction Technologies program, will be auctioned off Saturday, July 21, at noon, on the college's Chatham Main Campus in Pittsboro.

This year's one-bedroom, one-bathroom, high performance home features 512 square feet of conditioned living space, 160 square feet of covered porch, and 412 square feet of lofted interior storage. The custom design was created in collaboration with architect Mike Spinello, AIA, to be attractive and offer a sense of openness for the smaller space. The cottage highlights the beauty of local building materials and energy efficient design & construction.

The Cottage's compact size will comfortably fit the needs a single individual or couple, and is an ideal option as a small home, in-law suite, guest house, vacation rental, or office space.

The Cottage is framed with 2x4 exterior walls and 2x10 roof rafters wrapped in 1.5-inch thick R-8.6 polyisocyanurate rigid insulation board providing the building envelope with a complete thermal barrier against heating and cooling losses. The Cottage is sided in local North Carolina pine, installed using the rainscreen construction technique for breathability and long life. The porch is decked in cedar grown and milled in Chatham County. Energy efficient Ply-Gem casement windows allow for ease of natural ventilation and ample natural light. It also features a heat reflective galvanized metal roof, which provides both comfort and long lasting durability.

The interior of the Cottage is in an unfinished state to allow the purchaser to customize the space to their personal preference. The purchaser of the Cottage will be responsible for the completion of all remaining interior work. This may include insulation, drywall, painting, flooring, interior doors, cabinetry, fixtures, and interior carpentry trim work. Electrical and plumbing have both passed rough-in inspection from the Chatham County Inspections Department. The purchaser will be responsible for completing electrical and plumbing trim-out.

The house will require the addition of a heating and cooling system, appliances, electric water heater, and foundation upon placement at a permanent site.

This is the sixth in an annual series of small houses built by students studying green building and alternative energy. The Chatham Cottage was constructed under the direction of CCCC Building Construction Technologies Lead Instructor Jeff Gannon.

Proceeds from the sale will benefit the continuation of the Chatham Cottage project and provide scholarship funds for students enrolled in the Building Construction and Sustainability programs.

The auction will be held on July 21st at noon at the Chatham Cottage, which is located outside the Sustainability Building on the CCCC Chatham Main Campus 764 West St., Pittsboro.

The Cottage -- which currently sits on temporary pillars and must be removed from the college premises within 30 days after the sale is complete -- is now on display at the auction site. No preregistration is required to bid at the Cottage auction. That the successful bidder will be required to make a 10% deposit by either cash or certified check on the day of the sale with the balance due within ten (10) business days of the auction.

To receive additional information about the Chatham Cottage, or to schedule an appointment to view the house, contact Jeff Gannon at 919-545-8032 or jgannon@cccc.edu.

For more information about auction bidding procedures, contact Andrew McMahan at 919-545-8036 or by e-mail at amcmahan@cccc.edu.

For more information about Central Carolina Community College, visit www.cccc.edu.