Center woodworkers craft furniture for climbing gym

By Sara Wiercinski

On April 7, students from Center High School’s advanced woodshop class delivered two custom-built tables to Rendezvous Climbing Gym (13124 State Line Road).

The project is part of Center’s Real World Learning program which partners students with local businesses.

Mark Messner, owner of Rendezvous and himself a former teacher, started working with Center in September, shortly after launching.

“We opened the gym to be all about community,” said Messner. “We want to use climbing as a way to be social, and providing space for people to have fun is part of that.”

Rendezvous’ lounge area includes tables with space to play board games, air hockey and enjoy refreshments.

Center seniors Shawn Keith and Landon Geier took on a large table project, working with Messner on the concept and refining the design. The table seats twelve and is made of white pine in a waterfall-style design.

“Anyone who has done any woodworking knows how hard it is to match up the grains on a piece like this one,” said Messner.

Alec Chambers teaches woodworking and skilled trades at Center High School.

“I admire the courage it took to take on a project like this,” said Chambers. “There were some hiccups and challenges over the past five and a half months, but these kids worked through it.”

Senior Messiah Lee is still finalizing construction of his coffee table that serves as chess or checkers board. Lee said the project taught him how to epoxy pour and use a laser engraver.

Lee used leftover brackets from the climbing wall construction to create table legs. Messner applauded Lee’s creativity both in using surplus materials and integrating aspects of the gym into the design.

Chambers concluded: “Not many of these kids are going to be professional woodworkers. What we are doing is arming them with the skills to take on life’s challenges.”

After the reception, Messner treated the students and teachers to lunch and Rendezvous t-shirts. He offered Center High students a free month’s worth of climbing.

“We are super excited to have the tables here at the gym,” said Messner.

Center’s woodworking students have partnered with Crow’s Coffee in Red Bridge and the Veterans Community Project on past furniture projects.