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CenterWorks will be the applied research and development arm of The Center for Turning and Furniture Design, creating co-op work experiences that serve the programmatic needs of the majors. A major goal will be to nurture graduates for successful career launches upon graduation, as part of a larger curriculum that focuses both artistic and entrepreneurial intentions while honoring the liberal arts sensibilities of the university's degree. CenterWorks will pursue incentives that will encourage its graduates to establish companies in western Pennsylvania .

This project will combine several innovative profit-generating functions:

  • Extend the concepts, designs, and material research that result from structured class experiences by providing a guided real-world sequence of testing, design/process refinement, production, marketing, and sales.
  • Foster the creation of individual business plans resulting from collaborations with students of IUP's Eberly College of Business and knowledgeable professionals.
  • Produce commissioned limited-production works.
  • Create opportunities at IUP for a select few of the very best students from other universities by providing a unique production-oriented experience that will allow them to refine and produce their own designs.
  • Offer a modern well-equipped facility that is available for periodic rental by woodworking and furniture-related shops in western Pennsylvania . It will provide unique research/development and production opportunities for small shops.

read about our inaugural commission...