MODEL: 21st Century Digital Learning Environments & Studio Classrooms (@AKUPENDA Transformation Conversation)

Career Help: TechShop

Studio unites creatives in unique, collaborative environment

   If you want to work out your body, you join a fitness center where you can use the equipment and be motivated by others sweating it out. If you want to work out your brain,you join TechShop,where you can use professional machines and software and be inspired by other creative types thinking it out.

   At least that’s how Will Brick, general manager of TechShop Detroit in Allen Park,sees it. “There are six TechShops in the country, and every one at its core is an open-to-the-public, do-it-yourself workshop and prototyping studio,” he says.“It’s like a gym for people who like to make stuff.”

   The Allen Park location –it opened a year ago and was the first TechShop outside California–is a 17,000-square-foot facility that includes wood, metal, textile and welding workshops, along with state-of-the-art equipment such as laser cutters,a waterjet cutter and 3-D printers.There also is top of-the-line design software, including the entire Autodesk Design Suite.

   But just as important as the equipment is the collaborative environment TechShop is dedicated to fostering, Brick says. Everything in the building is centered around the Community Hub, which contains project areas with large worktables ideal for working with others. The shop attracts everyone from college grads who no longer have access to campus equipment to retirees looking to start their own businesses to those looking fora career change.Because storage space is available, artisans can even run their businesses entirely from the center.

   Ford Motor Co. also has an investment, buying large blocks of memberships to give to staff members and encouraging employees to work on prototypes at the center, according to Brick.

   “Weget folks from different backgrounds and interests who come in and work together on projects,” Brick says. “We really encourage spontaneous collaboration.The people who come here represent a huge breadth and cross section of experience. They are people who wouldn’t have met otherwise.”

   TechShops are membership-based;the Detroit-area location currently has approximately 900 members, Brick says. For around $100 a month, members can use and reserve the shop’s tools and equipment after completing equipment-specific Safety and Basic Use(SBU) classes.Classes average two and a half hours and usually have four to six students; cost typically runs from$40 to $100. (Veterans currently are eligible for free one-year memberships and $350 worth of group classes,see sidebar.)“No prior knowledge of the equipmentis needed,” Brick says. “We are trying to demystify the equipment and let people know it’s not only for a certain person or certain kind of work.”

   Trained staff members also are available full time to help develop ideas and improve techni cal skills. The shop is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, and free tours are available at the top of every hour.

   Brick encourages anyone who’s interested in the center to come,take the short tour and really get a feel for the spirit of collaboration and innovation that permeates throughout.

   “We havepeople who have fantastici deas,” he says.“Where else can you introduce a young artist coming up with ideas to a 30-year tool-and-die worker,and they end up working together?”

TechShop Detroit is amembership-based, do-it-yourself workshop and prototyping studio located at 800 Republic in Allen Park. There are five other locations across the U.S., with three more in the planning stages.

Good to Know

   › TechShop Detroitisopen10 a.m. to 9p.m.daily.Freetours are available everyhour.

   › Theshopwill host aPost-Maker FaireOpenHouse from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday,Aug.3.The eventis opentothe public and will include toursand achancetomeetstaff.

   › Formoreinfo, visitwww.techshop.  com  , email info.dt@techshop.com   or call 313-583-3831.