TURNERS FALLS — Twelve carpentry students from Franklin County Technical recently built and delivered six wheelchair-accessible picnic tables to Poet’s Seat Health Care in Greenfield.
The students, all freshmen, received a lesson in the life cycle of product development, where they researched customer requirements and American Disability Act (ADA) guidelines, used computer-aided design tools, manufactured the tables and delivered the product to the customer. Carpentry instructor Michael Nobrega said the design process took one week, plus an additional week for students to build and deliver the tables.
The oversized tables measure 4½1/2 feet wide by 12 feet long, and can accommodate up to eight people who use wheelchairs. Carpentry instructor Michael Nobrega and his students were involved in every aspect of the project, from researching American Disability Act (ADA) guidelines to designing and constructing.
Carpentry students collaborated with Computer Aided Design (CAD) instructor Michael Therrien to produce the design of the tables.
According to Patricia Tuttle, Poet Seat’s business manager, residents were excited that the new tables allowed them to sit close enough to enjoy activities and meals together. Previously, the center had small plastic picnic tables that couldn’t accommodate enough people.
The 12 students worked in six groups of two, and each group had an assigned task for each aspect of the project. All students had to do their own drawings.
“They showed a lot of good work ethic,” Nobrega said. “We have strong leaders in this class.”
Reach Christie Wisniewski at:
cwisniewski@recorder.com
or 413-772-0261, ext. 280