Dates: Saturday, May 9th & Sunday, May 10th (2 meetings)

Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Instructor: Kolin Schmidt CF '21

SketchUp is a program for creating 3D models for construction, woodworking, jewelry, and craft projects.  Some 3D Modeling software can be complicated, expensive, and impractical for many makers.  SketchUp is a great way to learn about 3D modeling and get to work quickly without wasting time or money on advanced software you don’t need.  In this class, students will learn the basics of navigating a 3D space, creating objects, and organizing a 3D model.  Time permitting, students will work through some more complex projects, as well.

Tools & Supplies: Please bring the following required supplies to the first day of class.

Required:

• Any version of SketchUp 
• A laptop or Chromebook that meets the minimum requirements to run SketchUp
• Your laptop or Chromebook’s power cord

Recommended: 

• Notebook and pen or pencil
• A 3-button mouse (left, right, and a clickable scroll wheel) is highly recommended.

Attire: This is a general list of how to dress for the shop environment, please contact ce@nbss.edu if you have any questions.

• Closed-toe, comfortable, and protective footwear (sneakers or boots)
• No loose clothing
• Long pants suggested
• No loose jewelry
• Long hair must be tied back

Prerequisite: None

Age Requirement: Students must be 18+ to attend adult CE classes. No one under 18 years old is permitted to register for an adult class, even if accompanied by a parent or guardian. 

Dates: Tuesday, June 9 - Saturday, June 13 (5 meetings)

Hours: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Instructor: Sophie Linnell PC '21

Teaching Assistant: Kevin Jarvis PC '26

Price: $1,250 is the full cost of the class. A $150 deposit is due at the time of registration. Students will have the option to pay in full or pay over time with a weekly payment plan when registering for the class. The payment plan details will be shared during the registration process. 

In this course, students will reconstruct the historic Holten House Privy (ca 1750) using traditional mortise and tenon joinery. Students will learn the basics of reading architectural drawings to capture the key measurements needed to build the frame and solve for the curved hip-roof geometry using full scale drawings on the floor. Construction methods cover the use of traditional hand tools such as: chisels, mallets, T-handle Augers, hand- cranked boring machines, in addition to the sharpening techniques for these tools. The evolution of tooling will be discussed, and modern methodologies (such as chainsaw mortisers) will be demonstrated and utilized. Instructors will demonstrate how to layout and cut a mortise and tenon, how to layout and cut braces, and how to solve for the hipped roof rafters. Students will also have the opportunity to learn peg making with shaving horses and drawknives. As a result of taking this course, students will have the resources they need to design and build a small timber frame of their own.

The timber frame raising will take place on the final day of class, Saturday, June 13th as part of the Topsfield Historical Society’s 57th Annual Strawberry Festival. 

Location: Please note that this class will be held at the Topsfield Historical Society, 1 Howlett St, Topsfield, Massachusetts. 

• The class will be held in the Gould Barn while utilizing the lawn and grounds for portions of the classwork.
• The Gould Barn is wheelchair accessible with two single occupancy restrooms and a kitchenette available to students. 
• Parking is available in the Topsfield Historical Society's gravel lot. No parking is allowed in the church parking lot next door. 

Tools & Supplies: All tools and supplies are provided for this class

Attire: This is a general list of how to dress for the shop environment, please contact ce@nbss.edu if you have any questions.

• Steel-toed or composite work boots (NO SNEAKERS OR SANDALS)
• No loose clothing
• Long pants suggested
• No loose jewelry
• Long hair must be tied back

Prerequisite: None

Age Requirement: Students must be 18+ to attend adult CE classes. No one under 18 years old is permitted to register for an adult class, even if accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Dates: Saturday, August 1st & Sunday, August 2nd (2 meetings)

Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Instructor: Tom Eldridge PC '21

Teaching Assistant: TBA

This two-day course provides information and instruction appropriate for homeowners on the simple repair and restoration of wooden windows. An overview of professional preservation and restoration will also be provided. Day 1 reviews the anatomy and mechanics of wooden sash windows, the process of removing sash from their openings, paint removal and repairs to the wood frame. Day 2 includes the practice of deglazing glass, glass replacement, glazing, and painting. The methods taught in this class will be based on regularly available tools and materials for easy replication at home.

Tools & Supplies: All tools and supplies will be provided for this class.

Attire: This is a general list of how to dress for the shop environment, please contact ce@nbss.edu if you have any questions. 

• Closed-toe, comfortable, and protective footwear (sneakers or boots)
• No loose clothing
• Long pants suggested
• No loose jewelry
• Long hair must be tied back 

Prerequisite: None

Age Requirement: Students must be ages 18+ by the class start date to attend adult CE classes. No one under 18 years old is permitted to register for an adult class, even if accompanied by a parent or guardian. 

Please Note: North Bennet Street School will be undergoing exterior construction this summer, which may cause occasional noise or temporary changes to building access.

Dates: Monday, August 17 - Friday, August 21 (5 meetings)

Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Instructor: Patrick Moore

Price: $1,250 is the full cost of the class. A $150 deposit is due at the time of registration. Students will have the option to pay in full or pay over time with a weekly payment plan when registering for the class. The payment plan details will be shared during the registration process. 

This intensive, hands-on weeklong workshop uses stereotomy and stereotomical drawing methods to guide participants through the full construction of a scaled eyebrow dormer using timber; sized and detailed so its geometry, framing, and assemblies can be translated directly to actual shop and field work. Beginning with geometry transfer from nets and templates, the class moves into timber layout, cutting, assemblies, shaping, framing, sheathing, and finished roofing assemblies. Emphasis is placed on using stereotomic techniques to generate reproducible templates and construction drawings, to establish continuous load paths, and to resolve junctions (flashing, waterproofing, and framing connections). 

Intended for architects, designers, carpenters, general contractors, and timber framers, the course balances geometric thinking with hands-on carpentry and construction detailing to ensure participants can both design and execute curved roof work using stereotomy.

Learning Objectives:

• Construct a fully scaled wood eyebrow dormer mockup that demonstrates correct curved geometry, framing layout, and continuous load path, and verify its dimensional accuracy against provided templates.
• Translate paper templates into timber by applying layout, cutting, shaping, and assembly techniques to produce reproducible components and on-site templates suitable for field fabrication.
• Evaluate and integrate waterproofing, flashing, and roof-assembly details for curved dormer geometry.
• Prepare a contractor-ready package—including scaled template drawings, material lists, and step-by-step assembly sequencing.

Tools & Supplies: All tools and supplies will be provided for this class.

Attire: This is a general list of how to dress for the shop environment, please contact ce@nbss.edu if you have any questions. 

• Closed-toe, comfortable, and protective footwear (sneakers or boots)
• No loose clothing
• Long pants suggested
• No loose jewelry
• Long hair must be tied back

Prerequisite: Participants must be familiar with basic hand and power tools and have a working knowledge of basic drafting tools. If you have questions about your experience, please contact ce@nbss.edu.

Age Requirement: Students must be 18+ by the class start date to attend adult CE classes. No one under 18 years old is permitted to register for an adult class, even if accompanied by a parent or guardian. 

Please Note: North Bennet Street School will be undergoing exterior construction this summer, which may cause occasional noise or temporary changes to building access.

Dates: Saturday, August 22nd & Sunday, August 23rd (2 meetings)

Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Instructor: Patrick Moore

In this hands-on workshop, participants will construct a scaled down high-top patio table (* ½ scale) based on the German National Carpentry Team’s design, incorporating a self-supporting X-brace structure. You will use practical stereotomy, known as Schiftung, to manually draw out the design full-size, ensuring accurate angles and lengths for precise layout. This traditional method, deeply rooted in German carpentry practices, will guide your construction process, allowing you to build a stable and visually striking table while mastering layout and joinery techniques.

The repetitive "Mandala" geometry in the design of this table creates an intricate, symmetrical pattern that is both visually captivating and structurally efficient. This geometric approach echoes traditional design principles, where each element interlocks with the others, forming a cohesive, self-supporting structure. By integrating this pattern with Schiftung, participants will not only refine their layout and angle skills but also experience the beauty of a design that balances aesthetics with functionality.

Key Highlights:

• Apply practical stereotomy (Schiftung) for ½ scale design layout
• Master accurate angle and length calculation techniques
• Build a self-supporting X-brace table
• Learn advanced layout and construction methods
• Hands-on experience with reciprocal design principles

Tools & Supplies: All tools and supplies will be provided for this class. 

Attire: This is a general list of how to dress for the shop environment, please contact ce@nbss.edu if you have any questions. 

• Closed-toe, comfortable, and protective footwear (sneakers or boots)
• No loose clothing
• Long pants suggested
• No loose jewelry
• Long hair must be tied back

Prerequisite: Participants must be familiar with basic hand and power tools and have a working knowledge of basic drafting tools. If you have questions about your experience, please contact ce@nbss.edu.

Age Requirement: Students must be 18+ by the class start date to attend adult CE classes. No one under 18 years old is permitted to register for an adult class, even if accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Please Note: North Bennet Street School will be undergoing exterior construction this summer, which may cause occasional noise or temporary changes to building access.