New CMI classroom completed, equipment donated to affiliated colleges and universities.

The Cast Metals Institute (CMI) held its first class at the new AFS/CMI headquarters in Schaumburg, Ill. The Introduction to Metalcasting course took place April 12-14, just days after the construction of the new classroom was finished. When CMI moved to its current location from Des Plaines, Ill., the new building was not yet equipped to host CMI courses, so steps were taken to construct an 1,100 sq. ft. classroom, two technical department meeting/conference rooms totaling 1,300 sq. ft. and a lunchroom.

The construction project took several months and resulted in a convenient onsite learning center. The area also is equipped with a wireless internet connection to facilitate the ability to teach and learn using cutting-edge technology.

With the closing of the education laboratory facilities at its former location, CMI also had valuable metalcasting equipment that would no longer be used. Rather than dispose of it, CMI donated much of the equipment to AFS and FEF affiliated colleges and universities with metalcasting programs. This not only supplemented the equipment that the schools already had in place, but also allows CMI to continue teaching hands-on laboratory courses through partnerships with these schools.