TA News

In the fall of 2014 and 2015, Chris Schmidt’s Timber Framing class built two new dugouts to replace deteriorating structures for the Panther baseball team. This fall, Chris’s class has designed and, as of Oct. 30, erected the frame of the first of two dugouts for the Panther softball team. 

In September, the class of 12 students divided into three groups, each of which researched, designed, and constructed a scale model of a softball dugout. Using cad design software and applying the engineering skills they learned through the class, the students calculated roof angles, snow loads, and complex cuts for mortices and tenons, and came up with three competing designs for the timber framed structure.

The three groups presented their projects to school personnel, received feedback, and then chose one of the designs.  The class then prepared the wood for “raising day” on Oct. 30.  In the remaining weeks of the semester, the class will complete the roof, panel the exterior, and install benches and cubbies in the dugout, which will serve the home team this spring.  Next year’s Timber Framing class will build the visitors’ softball dugout.

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”14″ gal_title=”Timber Framing Class Fall 2018″]

Over the past six years, TA’s Timber Framing program has constructed the pavilion overlooking the upper soccer field, two baseball dugouts, and a large outdoor classroom just beyond the student parking lot (which was a two-year project).