Crain's names president of Sam Beauford Woodworking Institute a 'notable leader'

Crain's names president of Sam Beauford Woodworking Institute a 'notable leader' June 3, 2026 | 9:11 pm CDT

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Woodworking Industry News

Crain's names president of Sam Beauford Woodworking Institute a 'notable leader'

By

Larry Adams

June 3, 2026 | 9:11 pm CDT

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As work continues on the future Sam Beauford Woodworking Institute (SBWI) campus, Luke Barnett, president of the SBWI, has been recognized by Crain's Detroit Business as a Notable Leader in Architecture, Engineering and Construction.

The peer-reviewed award highlights SBWI's enrollment growth project and the state investment that will help expand the trade school from just over 20 students to more than 200 students annually.

Barnett was recognized alongside other leaders from across Michigan's architecture, engineering, and construction industries for projects that are shaping the state's future.

The announcement came as the school has made progress on the site of SBWI’s future campus. At the new location on the corner of Forrister Rd. and Hamilton Hwy., nearly 50% of the foundation work has now been completed. Earthmoving on the property continues, including the creation of a new pond that will become part of the landscape and natural learning environment of the forested “Trade School for Tomorrow.” 

Restoration and ecological work across the property continue to transform the land. Invasive honeysuckle removal has now been completed, opening the woods and allowing native species to thrive. This spring, phlox blooms have begun spreading across the property, offering an early glimpse of what the campus environment will become in the years ahead.

School for tomorrow The Trade School for Tomorrow is not intended to feel like a conventional campus. It is designed as an immersive environment where students can connect to each other and their studies in a rich setting that rivals the best colleges in the country. 

Over the last year, SBWI has announced curriculum partnerships in timber framing and historic preservation, and the school is in the final stages of designing these new programs. Early interest forms are available for the Fall of 2027. 

For Barnett, who came to construction through woodworking, this has always been about more than materials. The new campus will redesign and redefine what a modern trades education should be.

Skilled trades in Michigan have been treated as an “alternative” for too long. SBWI believes that whether preserving meaningful spaces, building sustainably, or crafting items meant to last for generations, working with your hands is foundational to higher education.

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About the author

Larry Adams

| Editor

Larry Adams is a Chicago-based writer and editor who writes about how things get done. A former wire service and community newspaper reporter, Larry is an award-winning writer with more than three decades of experience. In addition to writing about woodworking, he has covered science, metrology, metalworking, industrial design, quality control, imaging, Swiss and micromanufacturing . He was previously a Tabbie Award winner for his coverage of nano-based coatings technology for the automotive industry. Larry volunteers for the historic preservation group, the Kalo Foundation/Ianelli Studios, and the science-based group, Chicago Council on Science and Technology (C2ST).

Read more articles from this author

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