Heritage Carpentry

Carpentry at the Perth Academy of Building Arts & Science is rooted in the enduring traditions of building, while fully engaging with the demands of the modern world. Students begin with the fundamentals — foundations, floors, walls, and roofs — learning how to lay out, frame, and construct structures that are both sound and code-compliant. From there, the curriculum advances into more sophisticated systems, including complex roof framing, exterior finishes, and the integration of windows, doors, and architectural details. Every stage emphasizes precision, durability, and the deep logic of how buildings stand and endure.

Craft & Material Intelligence

Carpentry at PABAS is more than assembly — it is a craft grounded in material intelligence and historical understanding. Students develop fluency in traditional joinery, timber framing, and architectural millwork, learning to shape wood with both hand tools and modern equipment. They study the properties of materials at a fundamental level — how wood moves, how structures breathe, and how traditional methods can be harmonized with contemporary building science.

Thinking, Planning, Communicating

Technical mastery is paired with the ability to think, communicate, and plan. Students learn to read and produce technical drawings, apply mathematical principles used daily in the trades, and manage real-world projects through estimating, scheduling, and coordination. They engage directly with existing buildings — assessing condition, diagnosing failures, and executing repairs using both traditional and modern techniques. Conservation is not treated as theory, but as practice: hands-on, evidence-based, and accountable to history.

Real Work

The program culminates in real work. Through co-op placements and capstone conservation projects, students move from classroom to job site, applying their skills in live environments. They graduate not only with knowledge, but with a body of built work — a portfolio that demonstrates competence in the most honest sense: structures that stand, joints that hold, and craft that endures.