If you don’t know what you’re looking for, you might easily miss it.

At first glance, the tiny structure on display at The RiverFront in Omaha resembles a garden shed. A closer inspection reveals a compact living space known as an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU). Students from Benson High designed and built the self-contained housing unit.

“The students have had their hands on every single step of the way,” said Thomas Sibbitt, a teacher leading the work at Benson High.

The project evolved from discussions about the growing demand for affordable housing.

“Our students all had a research and design process,” said Sibbitt. “From that, we decided, you know, we have a pretty great design here. Let's go ahead and try to construct one. So, we dove into the hands-on project and found creative ways to fund it.”

Students from the school’s Architecture and Engineering and Design and Construction Pathways have been working on the project for two years, ultimately leading to a fully functional ADU.

“We started by making a list of the material we need,” said Lah Ku Paw, a Benson High junior. “After doing that, we did the framing, the siding and any retouch we needed to make the house better.”

The 140-square-foot home includes a kitchen, bathroom and sleeping area. Students also installed electrical, plumbing and other features.

“It's insulated. It is watertight,” explained Sibbitt. “I would say certainly in the Midwestern climate, you could live there.”

The ADU display at The RiverFront is part of an educational exhibit that highlights the benefits of compact housing and offers a unique park programming opportunity.

“I feel really proud,” said Lah Ku Paw. “Not only is it helping, I'm also getting hands-on experience.”

Student access to collaborative projects like this prepares them for college and careers.

“We're deep into looking at housing, building, employing students after graduation,” said Sibbitt. “Putting students in a position where they have the right skills to have a design or engineering career.”

In addition to the skills learned, students feel pride in their accomplishments.

“Not many 17-year-olds can say that they know how to build a tiny house,” said LawLa Paw, a Benson High senior. “I feel very proud.”

The ADU will be temporarily displayed during peak times, accompanied by educational materials for visitors. Benson High plans to auction the unit in the future.