ADRIAN — The Sam Beauford Woodworking Institute in Adrian has secured $16.5 million for the first phase of its campus expansion project.
The funding, made possible through support from the State of Michigan, private donors, and community partners, will allow SBWI to expand enrollment capacity from about 20 graduates per year to more than 200.
President Luke Barnett said the project represents more than construction; it’s about redefining what college education can be and restoring dignity to the skilled trades. The plan includes new student housing, design studios, public exhibition space, and state-of-the-art workshops built with sustainable mass timber construction.
Representative Nancy Jenkins-Arno helped secure $12 million in state funding for the project, and the S.L. Hickman Family Foundation contributed a lead gift of $4 million.
A public campaign will launch on December 1 to allow community members to participate in the effort.
Sam Beauford Woodworking Institute officials say the expansion will strengthen Lenawee County’s workforce and help craft the future of hands-on education.