Facilities
Exciting “buzz” here at the Thompson school with construction of our new Forest Industries Training Center underway.
Thompson School Sawmill Project Update!!
COME AND SEE WHAT WE SAW!
The Forest Technology Program of the Thompson School has been engaged in a project to renovate the 40 year old sawmill on the Durham Campus. The old mill served the students and the industry of New Hampshire for many years but has slowly become a relic and in need of an upgrade. Three years ago Don Quigley, Professor of Forest Technology, with the support of the Thompson School, the UNH Foundation and the University began a fund raising effort to 
get a new mill underway. The challenge from the University was to find 2/3 of the required funds from off campus sources. In the fall of 2007 the fund raising phase was completed with tremendous help from the forest industries of the state and very loyal alumni and friends of the school. Perhaps as important as meeting the funding goal for the project was the opportunity to reconnect and engage with the many wood related industries of the state. Some alums who never thought of giving to the university before embraced this project with contributions of cash as well as equipment donations and services.
And so the construction commenced and equipment began to arrive in the Spring of 2008. Since then the project has been a whirlwind 
of activity with dozens of contractors, advisors and designers on site. As for the students, its “all hands on deck”, with paid and volunteer labor, painting, lugging materials, cutting more lumber and eating cold pizza as they go. This has been a real team building experience. Another added benefit of the project has been an enhanced public image for the school and Forest Tech Program, possibly resulting in the healthy boost in enrollment experienced this semester.
If you find yourself on campus in the near future stop by the construction site on Mast Road in Durham and have a look around.
We are scheduled to start cutting some lumber after the first of the year. Of course, the lumber will be harvested from sustainably managed University lands, by students of the Forest Technology Program, on a state-of-the-art, thin-kerf bandsaw with remarkably low energy inputs. Yeah, we’re proud of it.
To see more photos of the sawmill project, click here.
