Maintaining Excellence
How the Cabinet & Furniture Making Program Revamped Its Machine Room for the Next Generation
Early in 2023, a conversation among faculty members at NBSS sparked an idea that would soon transform the Cabinet & Furniture Making (CF) program. The subject at hand was the aging equipment in the machine room, which, despite decades of service, was beginning to falter under the heavy use of 40+ students across decades. As the machines required regular adjustments and repairs, instructors found themselves spending more and more time as mechanics than educators. This realization led to a consensus: it was time for a major upgrade.
Jamey Pope CF ’06, the CF Department Head, recalls how the initial idea came to life. “Matt Wajda [CF ’00] and I were going over the equipment and in an exasperated moment one of us said something about just starting over from scratch. But as we left later that day, each of us thought, ‘Why are we just daydreaming? Let’s find out how much this would cost.'”
This moment of curiosity quickly evolved into a thoughtful plan to overhaul the machine room with new equipment from the Northfield company, a Minnesota-based manufacturer known for its durable and reliable machinery.
The need for new equipment was clear, but the funding required was not something the school could easily absorb. The estimated cost for the project was more than $200,000, a significant sum that necessitated outside support. Fortunately, the donor community rallied behind the cause. Over the next two years, Jamey and the NBSS Development team worked tirelessly to raise the necessary funds. The effort was a success, bringing in over $210,000 from a small but enthusiastic group of donors, including graduates, some board members, and corporate supporters.
The success of the fundraising campaign allowed the School to move forward with the purchase of six new machines. But the project didn’t stop there. In addition to the new machines, the machine room underwent a complete reorganization, including updated electrical and ductwork. This overhaul not only improved the functionality of the space but also significantly enhanced the health and safety conditions for both students and faculty. The work was completed in just two months by CF Instructor (and jack-of-all-trades) Nick Maraldo CF ‘07, overseen and coordinated by Marc Dreyfus, Director of Facilities & Technology.
“With the quality of this new equipment, there’s less time spent on maintenance and more time working with students.”
– Jamey Pope CF ’06, Department Head
The impact of the upgrade is far-reaching. For students in the CF program, the new machines offer a more reliable and efficient learning environment. The days of explaining why the planer isn’t working properly or why the joiner fence isn’t square are over. Now, students can focus entirely on their craft, using equipment that is both effective and efficient, while also reflecting the standards they will encounter in the professional world.
For instructors like Matt, the new equipment means more time to focus on teaching rather than maintenance. “Watching Matt try to keep all the machines tuned throughout the year was a huge challenge,” Jamey recalls. “Now, with the quality of this new equipment, there’s less time spent on maintenance and more time working with students.”
The benefits extend beyond the full-time students in CF. The Community Education department, which offers its signature Three-Month Furniture Making Intensive in the CF program space each summer, also stands to gain from the upgraded facilities. “Having CE students come in and work with this extremely high-quality equipment sets the status of our department,” Jamey explains. “The new machines not only elevate the learning experience but are also a great recruitment tool for future students.”
As Provost Claire Fruitman CF ’96 summarizes, “We have a fabulous faculty, we have a great curriculum. We moved into this facility, which is fantastic, and now we have an amazing machine room to go with all of that. Even though I didn’t think it could get much better, this moves the program to a whole new level.”
The completion of this project marks a new chapter for the CF program at NBSS. With top-quality equipment, an optimized learning environment, and a commitment to excellence, the program is poised to continue its tradition of producing highly skilled and knowledgeable graduates, ready to make their mark in the world.
This story is part of our FY24 Annual Report. View more issues here.
