We are beyond elated to announce the completion of the first ever helical staircase course offered in North America. Students of the Sam Beauford Woodworking Institute completed this course with grand success and demonstrated their skill and competency by constructing their own scaled-down model of a spiral staircase. This course (and the staircase) were designed by Patrick Moore of the School of Practical Stereotomy - École Pratique de Stéréotomie, and the staircase was engineered by Dick Schmidt Ph.D of Fire Tower Engineered Timber to ensure real-world applications would be structurally sound. Patrick taught students curved staircase design, stereotmy principles, and construction techniques. Students learned how to draft curved elements like stringers, handrails, and treads within three-dimensional space.

This unique course, Mastering Spiral Staircases: The Art of Curved Staircase Design using Stereotomy with Patrick Moore, is only offered at the Sam Beauford Woodworking Institute. Patrick traveled to the SBWI in Adrian, MI from Nepean, Ontario, Canada to teach this five day workshop. He is the first North and South American Compagnon Passant Charpentier. Students traveled from Utah, Minnesota, Massachusetts, New York and Wisconsin to learn from Patrick. Congratulations to the students for successfully completing this groundbreaking course, and special thanks to Patrick Moore for bringing this wonderful course to the SBWI.

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Learn more about Patrtick Moore

View Patrick’s website SchoolofStereotomy.com

Patrick is Le Canadien 'L'Ami du Trait', the first North and South American Compagnon Passant Charpentier. His passion and ambition are to revive the "School of Practical Stereotomy Applied to Construction" founded by Compagnon Charpentier Pierre Guillon, (1871-1923). Mr. Guillon was a Master Carpenter, Professor, Mayor, and Freemasonic Dignitary. Patrick is North and South America's first and only Compagnon Passant Charpentier that completed the 'Tour-de-France' and was received by the 'Compagnons Passant Charpentier' (2013). He received a Masters from 'La Grande École des Hommes de Métier en Compagnonnage'  in Carpentry. Patrick finished an apprenticeship program in Canada - Red seal certificate (2009) - and at St. Lawrence College - Advanced Carpentry Apprenticeship (2009). He received Algonquin College Diplomas - Heritage Masonry (2005) and Heritage Carpentry (2007) and has written articles on the Compagnonnage and Art du Trait for the Timber Framers Journal and Scantlings. He is registered with the CCQ and hold 'Carte de Competance' for Quebec. Patrick is a member of the Association des Compagnons du Devoir Guild in France, the Timber Framers Guild of North America, the Carpenter Fellowship in the U.K., The United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America - Local 93, and the Heritage Carpentry Advisory Committee at the Algonquin College Perth Campus.