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SBWI Partners with Michigan Historic Preservation Network

July 22, 2025

Lansing, MI — July 22, 2025 — The Michigan Historic Preservation Network (MHPN) and the Sam Beauford Woodworking Institute (SBWI) are thrilled to announce a groundbreaking partnership aimed at revitalizing historic preservation trades education in Michigan. This collaborative initiative will offer a series of specialized hands-on workshops, covering essential preservation skills such as historic sash window construction, wood bending techniques, and timber frame engineering.

Funded in part by a generous grant from the Michigan Arts and Culture Council, this initiative brings together MHPN's extensive preservation advocacy and SBWI’s nationally recognized expertise in woodworking education to meet the growing need for skilled tradespeople proficient in traditional building methods.

"This partnership represents a major step forward for preservation trades," stated Luke Barnett, President of SBWI. "Skilled trades are the backbone of heritage conservation, yet many of these critical skills are at risk of disappearing. By teaming up with MHPN, we are providing accessible, high-quality training opportunities, preparing a new generation of craftspeople to preserve and protect Michigan’s historic architecture."

Upcoming workshops include:

Wood Bending: Bend and Form (August 4-8, 2025): Participants will learn multiple wood bending methods such as steam bending and vacuum forming, enabling them to produce historically accurate curved components.

19th-Century Windows & Doors – Construction & Repair (August 11-15, 2025): Part of the acclaimed Thoreau's Cabin Series, students will build historically accurate sash windows and doors using traditional joinery and glazing techniques.

Introduction to Timber Frame Engineering (September 19-21, 2025): This course combines theory with hands-on practice, focusing on timber frame structures, joint design, and structural testing methods.

"MHPN is proud to partner with SBWI, an institution known for excellence in trade education," said Brenda Rigdon, Executive Director of MHPN. "Together, we're not just preserving historic buildings—we’re preserving the specialized knowledge that makes such preservation possible."

Read more:

Woodworking Industry News: Education partnership expands historic preservation trade→