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Built to Last: Campus carpenters build beauty into their projects

Sanders and routers whine and buzz, colossal saws screech, and a fine coat of sawdust settles gently on every surface in the Facilities Management Services carpentry shop at First and Cedar. As the seven-man crew gathers for what they consider an amusing novelty—a photo shoot—it’s clear they are a friendly group of practical jokers: “SWEARING PLEASE” reads a faded sign dangling from the cavernous warehouse ceiling—the “NO” has gone missing.

Carpenters on campus don’t get a lot of recognition, but we have them to thank for remodeling offices and classrooms, repairing doors, floors, walls, and windows, as well as creating and installing cabinets. One of their most functional and practical products is the mediated lectern found at the front of many classrooms. Each component of these custom pieces, which house computer and other electronic equipment, is created by a different member of the crew. Randy Becker, for example, creates the screen and speaker boards, as well as the camera mounts. The crew strives to create pieces that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

While most of the carpenters’ work is understandably utilitarian, grace notes of fine craftsmanship appear throughout the campus. The third floor elevator lobby in Tehama Hall is distinguished by a classy College of Business sign and attractive wainscoting, designed and constructed by carpenter Joel Dauterman. For Kendall 107, Dauterman designed and crafted a round conference table of cherry wood, which Dennis Graham, vice president of business and finance, uses often. “Everyone is always in awe and extremely impressed with the workmanship of the table,” Graham said.

Because of his talent with woodwork, it was Dauterman who was assigned the task of creating cabinetry for the recently renovated Humanities Center in Trinity Hall. Laird Easton, director of the center, said the old seminar room was transformed from “ugly and drab” into a “beautiful and welcoming center.” The renovation, funded by the College of Humanities and Fine Arts, features floor-to-ceiling built-in cabinets and bookcases handcrafted from Honduran mahogany. The paneled ceiling was constructed by Dauterman and another talented carpenter, Ralph Plemmons. Dauterman described the cabinetry as “scribed,” meaning it was built to fit the wall and ceiling, without molding to cover gaps—a challenge in 70-year-old Trinity. “The building is very old and crooked, which makes the job three times more difficult,” Dauterman said.

Student interns from Lenn Goldmann’s interior design/art classes created the room’s elegant look in part by designing the cabinetry to look like furniture. The students produced a set of working drawings for FMS, but ultimately they put their trust in the carpenters. “We left Joel to his own craft to make things better, to add details,” said Goldmann.

Joe Covert, manager of grounds and building trades, acknowledged Don Pustejovsky, who Covert said does a great job keeping things moving smoothly as supervising carpenter on many projects. Covert, who will retire in May after 36 years of service, expressed a fatherly pride in his crew. “They build things to last,” he said. “They take the time to make sure each job is completed the best it can be.”

Lisa Kirk