Topping Off: The Overlook House Structure Is Complete

This fall brought more rain than usual, and on some days the drive to the site simply wasn't possible. Even so, the structure of Overlook House, our 2026 project, is now complete. To mark the milestone, we held a topping off ceremony.

Celebrating Together

Timothy Adekunle, Chair of the University of Utah School of Architecture. The Utah Navajo Trust Fund (UNTF), a long-time supporter of the program. Red Mesa Chapter House. Utah State University, looking ahead to future collaboration. And the family who will live in this home. Together with our students, everyone celebrated the finished structure.

Kee, from the family who will call this house home

The truss installation, complete

The People Behind the Structure

At DBU, we build without heavy machinery, by hand and with ordinary tools. That means a finished structure is never the work of our students alone. Once again, many people came out to the site to help.

Tim and Patrick of Wasatch SIPs: from donating the SIPs (structural insulated panels) to helping install them, thank you.

Shane Anderson and Lauren's teams from BYU, along with 2024 alumni Sarah, Kassandora, and Emma. Having alumni return to the site is always a moment we treasure.

An alum teaching a current student to weld

Valerie from the University of Utah School of Architecture and Milad from MDD came out to the site. Thank you.

And as University of Utah fall break volunteers, Leo and Tyson spent a full week helping on the build.

Thank you also to Diana, Cher, and Joyce.

What's Next on Site

At the end of October, electrical and mechanical rough-in and insulation begin. Metal siding on the exterior is scheduled to follow, with finish work moving forward inside and out.

If you're in Bluff anytime between now and December, please stop by the site. Cheer on our students and watch the house take shape, step by step.