A Woodworking & Carpentry Trade School

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Sam Beauford Woodworking Institute is an accredited, hands-on woodworking and carpentry trade school in Adrian, Michigan. SBWI offers an established Furniture Design program, with full-time Timber Framing and Architectural Carpentry & Preservation programs launching in Fall 2027. We also offer short woodworking classes for adults, makers, artists, veterans, tradespeople, and career changers.

News
New Architectural Carpentry & Preservation program will launch at SBWI’s new $16.5 million campus in Adrian Township
New Architectural Carpentry & Preservation program will launch at SBWI’s new $16.5 million campus in Adrian Township

Sam Beauford Woodworking Institute (SBWI) today announced that its new Architectural Carpentry & Preservation program has received approval from the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC), a recognized accrediting agency of the U.S. Department of Education. The approval clears the way for SBWI to welcome the program’s first class in fall 2027.

The one-year program will provide intensive, hands-on training for students interested in preserving, restoring and recreating the architectural elements that give historic buildings their character. The first academic year is scheduled to begin Aug. 30, 2027, with graduation on June 3, 2028. Successful students will earn a Professional Diploma in Architectural Carpentry & Preservation.

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Woodworking institute carves new path with historic preservation training
Woodworking institute carves new path with historic preservation training

The institute recently became an approved training provider for the Campaign for Historic Trades’ nationally recognized registered apprenticeship program, which is overseen by the U.S. Department of Labor and state work force agencies. Under the partnership, eligible classes at Sam Beauford can count toward the classroom instruction apprentices need to advance in designated preservation trades.

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Short Courses

Can’t attend a full-time program? SBWI offers a robust catalog of short courses to help you reach your goals.

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Earn a Living | Make a Life

Hear about these graduate journeys.

Featured
William Toth '24, Wood Design
William Toth '24, Wood Design

William Toth, 2024 graduate of the wood design program Talks about his new career as a furniture maker and woodworker.

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Ethan Lambrix '24 Wood Design Graduate & Custom Furniture Maker
Ethan Lambrix '24 Wood Design Graduate & Custom Furniture Maker

Hear what 2024 Grad Ethan Lambrix has to say about his current career, his passion for creating things, and his experience at the Sam Beauford Woodworking Institute.

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Conner Westerby '21, Wood Design
Conner Westerby '21, Wood Design

In this inspiring testimonial, we sit down with Conner Westerby, a 2021 graduate of the Sam Beauford Woodworking Institute’s Wood Design program. Conner shares his journey from student to professional at Vogue Furniture in Detroit, where he now crafts high-end interiors and custom pieces for some of the industry’s most discerning clients. Discover how SBWI’s hands-on training and real-world projects prepared Conner to excel in a rapidly growing field, and learn why woodworking is an incredibly rewarding career path for anyone with a passion for creativity and craftsmanship.

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