SOUTHFIELD, Mich. — When Roger L. Harrison first walked into a woodshop at Denby High School in Detroit, he didn’t realize it would spark a lifelong passion for building and problem-solving.
“My interest and love for woodworking started as a young man,” he said. “I went to a woodshop class, and I’ve loved it ever since.”
Now a Project Engineer, Safety Officer, and President of the LTU Chapter of the National Academy of Inventors in the College of Engineering, Harrison recently led a major upgrade to the student study room.
The project celebrates both sustainability, student achievement, and came together as a celebration of teamwork and creativity. LTU’s department of Civil and Architectural Engineering team won first place in the 2024 NCEES Award, earning the grand prize for their innovative project work. The materials, cabinets, and carpeting for the study room were funded by this award and was under the leadership of Department Chair Dr. Elin Jensen.
“The students who won the award were seniors and have graduated and started their careers, we are all so proud of their accomplishments” Harrison said. “This upgrade honors their achievement and benefits our current students.”
At the heart of the renovated space is a handcrafted 14-foot conference table built by Harrison using seven repurposed tables. He topped it with a ¾-inch particle board and a durable laminate surface. A 6-by-12-foot image of the Mackinac Bridge at sunrise, produced by d-fab Design Fabrications, sits beneath ¼-inch glass from John R Glass, giving the table a distinctive Michigan flair.
“It’s a blend of art, engineering, and Michigan pride,” he said. “I wanted it to inspire everyone who uses that space.”
The bookshelves were donated by LTU’s departments of Natural Sciences and Mathematics and Computer Sciences, with thanks to Department Chair Shannon Timmons and Associate Dean Glen Bauer for their support.
Harrison, a retired Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator, earned a master’s degree in Engineering Management and is an OSHA-certified Safety Trainer. He is also an award-winning inventor, advisor to the LTU Environmental Alliance, and member of the LTU Sustainability Committee.
“We all have a responsibility to make smart choices,” he said. “That means reusing materials, collaborating across departments, and designing for longevity. That’s what sustainability really is. If you can build something that lasts, and do it with care, you’re already making the world a better place.”
Lawrence Technological University is one of only 13 independent, technological, comprehensive doctoral universities in the United States. Located in Southfield, Mich., LTU was founded in 1932, and offers more than 100 programs through its Colleges of Architecture and Design, Arts and Sciences, Business and Information Technology, Engineering, and Health Sciences, as well as Specs@LTU, which offers communication training programs of the former Specs Howard School, and LTU’s growing Center for Professional Development. PayScale lists Lawrence Tech among the nation’s top 11 percent of universities for alumni salaries. Forbes and The Wall Street Journal rank LTU among the nation’s top 10 percent. U.S. News and World Report lists it in the top tier of best in the Midwest colleges. Students benefit from small class sizes and a real-world, hands-on, “theory and practice” education with an emphasis on leadership. Activities on Lawrence Tech’s 107-acre campus include more than 60 student organizations and NAIA varsity sports.
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