Carpentry Program Doubles

North Bennet Street School has been training carpenters since 1947. The program has evolved over the years as the construction industry and training methods have changed.

The current nine-month, hands-on carpentry curriculum trains students to construct and renovate residential and commercial buildings through skilled use of tools and machines, knowledge of efficient procedures, and an understanding of construction principles including current and emerging industry standards and building practices.

Carpentry class of 2016 flanked by their instructors

The program was developed to be intentionally small in order to provide ample one-to-one instruction and supervision from a master carpenter. The demand for skilled carpenters rises and falls with the economy and, until now, expanding the program to meet the increasing demand for skilled labor was difficult primarily because of space constraints. The capacity to expand the program and the demand for skilled carpenters merged with the move to 150 North Street and the school is thrilled to welcome 25 carpentry students to the class of 2016. Carpentry is one of the foundation programs in the Workforce Development and veterans initiatives. Ten of the students in the class are veterans and four are part of the Workforce Development Initiative.

Aaron Butt

To teach the larger class, the number of instructors has also doubled. Aaron Butt joins Brian Vogt PC ’94 as a full-time instructor in the program. With a background in both teaching and carpentry, Aaron brings an ideal mix of skills and experience to the carpentry program. Aaron came to NBSS from Covenant Construction, a firm on the North Shore, where he had worked since 2004. There, he progressed from carpenter to lead carpenter, to master carpenter/site supervisor. A natural leader and teacher, Aaron was responsible for training and overseeing new employees to ensure that their work met the quality and efficiency standards of the firm. Aaron is thrilled to join the Carpentry program as it doubles in size.