Mission Statement

Mission Statement June 26, 2006

I transferred from University of Oklahoma’s Physical Plant into the College of Architecture in October of 1999 as manager for the future Model Shop. We started out in Wilson Center, an old building with a lot of potential and an equal amount of code and safety issues. The remodel was the easy part; however satisfying the Oklahoma State Fire Marshall, and ADA requirements in that old building turned out to be a hard, up-hill battle. The Model Shop had its Grand Opening early in the fall semester of 2000, with a fresh new remodel, electrical up-grades, stocked tool crib, work benches, all new shop tools, dust collection system, and a safety program in place. This shop met its demise in the summer of 2003, as it was demolished to make room for parking expansion. With funding from the University we successfully coordinated with A&E services, the O.U. Physical Plant, and outside contractors for the layout and construction of another shop at 1425 George Street. The new shop meets code requirements. It facilitates wood working, spray painting, metal, and plastics, as well as a studio for digital photo editing, and a computer/laser lab.

Working with architecture faculty, staff, and students has been gratifying and to say the least exhilarating. Emerging into this career, with a diverse background has been very helpful in problem solving and time management. Architecture students are creative, independent thinkers and I am amazed at the unlimited imaginative resources these students have obtained. One must concede to the fact that you can not live long enough to conquer all the skills and knowledge necessary to unravel every challenge that may come your way. However, constant research of materials, techniques, and tools are essential to keep up with demands in this academic field. It has been rewarding to me, and as I have stated more than once, I have, in all probability, learned more in the past six years than I have in the previous twenty years of my career. My mission is to continue to provide O.U. College of Architecture students with a safe, and clean working environment, persist with instructing students in safety, confer technical advice in joinery, fasteners, adhesives, materials, finishes, maintain tools and inventory, and any other Model Shop mechanical/technical support that I may have to offer.

The hardest part of this job is scheduling the many requests from the COA faculty. The most important duty is to maintain a safety discipline. The University of Oklahoma has set high academic standards for its student enrollment. The most rewarding part of this position is; I get to work with these brilliant creative students.

Shop Manager
Nicholas J. Thomas