Classes
June 9th - 13th, 2026
Historic Timberframing
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 lay out and cut a mortise and tenon, how to lay out 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.
North Bennet Street School, Topsfield Ma | Register Here
July 13th - 17th, 2026
Timberframing & Traditional Building
In this week-long intensive course, students will work independently and in collaboration to explore construction methods of pre-20th-century New England dwellings. Through hands-on, on-site fieldwork and live demonstrations, students will work together to raise a timber frame while learning traditional building methods such as mortise and tenon construction, historic sheathing, cladding, lime plaster application, and masonry. Besides learning important hand-building skills, students will also learn about architectural history and ideas. This knowledge will help them understand how to carefully preserve old buildings and their stories.
North Bennet Street School, Teen Craft & Trade Intensive, Boston Ma | Apply Here
July 20th - 24th, 2026
Timberframing & Traditional Building
In this week-long intensive course, students will work independently and in collaboration to explore construction methods of pre-20th-century New England dwellings. Through hands-on, on-site fieldwork and live demonstrations, students will work together to raise a timber frame while learning traditional building methods such as mortise and tenon construction, historic sheathing, cladding, lime plaster application, and masonry. Besides learning important hand-building skills, students will also learn about architectural history and ideas. This knowledge will help them understand how to carefully preserve old buildings and their stories.
North Bennet Street School, Teen Craft & Trade Intensive, Boston Ma | Apply Here