Boston, MA – June 4, 2019 – The Furniture Trust, a nonprofit committed to responsible reuse of unwanted office furniture, held its annual event, the Eco-Carpentry Challenge, designed to promote the circular economy and up-cycling while providing students with professional skills critical to their future.
Used office furniture donated by local businesses was delivered to ten high schools where students had their spring semester to use teamwork, imagination, and carpentry skills to transform these materials into new products, later donated back into the community.
At the Challenge, held May 2 at District Hall in Boston, students networked with industry professionals and peer schools as they showcased their up-cycled innovations to a panel of judges.
The ten participating schools of the 2019 Eco-Carpentry Challenge include students from Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational High School (Upton), East Bridgewater Junior/Senior High School, Essex Technical High School (Danvers), Hopedale High School, Madison Park Technical Vocational High School (Boston), Nashoba Valley Technical High School (Westford), Next Wave and Full Circle Alternative School (Somerville), Northbridge High School (Whitinsville), Shawsheen Valley Regional Technical High School (Billerica), and Worcester Alternative School.
The Furniture Trust assigned each team a mentor from the architecture, construction, project management, facilities, and furniture industries to provide guidance and technical expertise throughout the design and construction of their projects.
After thoughtful deliberation, the panel of judges comprised of industry professionals announced the 2019 Eco-Carpentry Challenge winners:
Runner Up: Madison Park Technical Vocational High School – $1,000 prize
- 1st Place, Small Shop: Northbridge High School – $2,000 prize
- 1st Place, Large Shop: Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational High School – $2,000 prize
- People’s Choice: Shawsheen Valley Regional Technical High School