Chippewa Valley Times

Four students at the University of Wisconsin-Stout have revitalized 108-year-old architectural fixtures by incorporating brass register grates from the university’s historic Harvey Hall into handcrafted furniture pieces. The project, which spanned a year, resulted in two side tables featuring these historic elements.

The initiative was led by Jennifer Astwood, Director of the Industrial and Product Design Program, with support from Maria Alm, Dean of the College of Arts and Human Sciences, and Heather Stecklein, University Archivist. "When trying to figure out ways to honor the legacy of the building, we wanted to offer students a special project," Alm stated. "This was a major learning experience that echoes the history of design at the university."

The student team included Annamarie Burch from Plover and Jordan Jentsch from West Bend on the ideation team, and Amelia Dobbratz from Waupun and Ethan Romo from Minneapolis on the fabrication team. They engaged in extensive research, multiple design iterations, and collaborated with local businesses to deliver professional-quality products.

Astwood emphasized the importance of mentorship in this project: “We couldn’t have done this without Maria and Heather. It takes good mentors like them who trust in what could happen.”

Stecklein noted that this hands-on project continues UW-Stout's tradition: “It echoes the designs and experiences of their academic ancestors.”

The grates were originally part of Harvey Hall's library until 1954 when a separate library building opened. The finished tables are now located in the CAHS dean’s conference room.

An unveiling event is scheduled for July 30th in Harvey Hall 355. Astwood and Stecklein will introduce the project alongside student teams. The public can view the project before and after this event or join virtually via Microsoft Teams.

These pieces will also be displayed at UW-Stout during the Polytechnic Summit in May 2025 as part of its Year of Design celebration.

Burch's research focused on historical design aesthetics while Jentsch explored mid-century modern influences. Their digital renderings guided Dobbratz and Romo through material sourcing and fabrication processes involving local companies Schmitt Timber, White City Glass, and Steel Towne.

Dobbratz described her experience: “This was my first experience making a professional-level piece.” She highlighted challenges such as dealing with wood warping due to humidity changes.

Astwood praised all involved students: “What’s great about a student-teacher relationship is that we trust each other... These students made it happen.”

Dobbratz received recognition for her work at UW-Stout’s Design Wisconsin event sponsored by Milwaukee Tool.

The project's origins trace back over a decade during Harvey Hall's renovation when brass grates were salvaged thanks to John Walter's efforts. Alm credited Walter: “Cleaning the historic pieces was a labor of love.”

Further details are available in UW-Stout’s Institutional Repository online collection. A QR code linking to these records will be engraved on each piece for future reference.