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Matthew Lim graduated from Bishop Reding Catholic Secondary School in 2020, so it had been two years since he’d seen the project he began working on in his final years of high school.

“It’s inspiring what a bunch of students can build together,” he said standing beside the Eco Bus, a 20-foot-long bus that students converted into a living and work space on wheels.

The project began four years ago and was originally intended to be completed in two; however, the pandemic and remote learning delayed it.

The interior of the bus has 94 square feet of living space, which expands to 110 with a drawbridge-style deck that folds out or up in less than five minutes and is secured by a hinge and pin system.

It uses solar panels mounted on the roof, which can provide 300 watts of electricity to power everything from lights to a cooler.

“It’s experiential learning,” said technology teacher Cesar Da Silva. “They learned theories and then were able to apply them to a hands-on, real-life project.”

The bus became more than an automotive project. It was able to involve students from almost every field of study to contribute to the bus. This includes:

• art: created canvas murals to decorate the interior as well as designing the bus’ wrap

• culinary: developed recipes using the limited ingredients carried on board

• math: calculated the best angle to mount solar panels to maximize the solar energy captured

• engineering: created a system to power the cooler while using the least energy

• woodworking: made shelving, cupboards and a herb garden

• science: created eco-friendly soap for washing dishes

• design technology: created the floor plan to maximize space

“It’s a different curriculum than sitting in a classroom. You get out and put it into action. You’re trying to minimize waste, minimize cost,” said Grade 12 student Nabina Imran.

Students sourced products, repurposing wood from pallets, buying materials from the ReStore and in some cases getting materials donated.

With housing prices rising and the growing popularity of tiny homes as well as more work being done remotely, Da Silva said the bus project is very timely.

The challenge for students became fitting as much into the bus without sacrificing its functionality.

Among the features in the van: a backup camera, a table that folds into a bed, a cooler, USB charging ports, a library, recycling and compost storage, a washroom with a sink and shower and portable toilet, an ethanol heater (students consulted the fire department for the safest heat source), and a camping stove.

“I liked solving problems in a confined space,” said Grade 12 student Jose Schmidkonz. “We still have unused space that’s filled with possibilities. You can always add opportunities to get creative.”

Even Eric Wang, a Grade 11 automotive student who saw the bus just a week earlier was impressed by the finishing touches, including the wrap.

“There was lots of rust when we started,” he said. “I’m impressed with how professional they made it look.”

And though the bus is technically finished, Da Silva said it will be used to challenge future classes to either add to or improve upon existing features.

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