Welcome to the Makerspace!

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As a Penn freshman, I absolutely adore Penn’s huge variety of makerspaces for all majors, interests, and goals. For all of you out there like me who love getting hands-on work in building cool machines and projects, allow me to introduce you to all the places you can do exactly that at Penn!

All these amazing locations and labs below are open to all (some require a short application or safety training) — there is so much more available for those in specific majors, clubs, or research groups at Penn.

1. Venture Labs

Located in Tangen Hall (155 S 40th street), a massive 7 floor building that serves as Penn’s startup hub, Venture Labs is the premier laboratory for those interested in building – whether that's a machine or a company! It features a digital design studio, a food innovation lab, a retail lab, and so much more! For all those passionate about startups, Venture Labs is also filled with events and funds to help get your amazing idea off the ground at Penn.

2. Education Commons

Not only is Education Commons a phenomenal study spot —see our previous blogs— it is also bountiful with amazing resources for arts and crafts. It’s located next to Franklin Field (previous home of the Philadelphia Eagles), right above the Fox fitness center, and is complete with button pin makers, 3D printers, sewing machines, laser cutters, all in a bean-bag filled room with a stunning view of Shoemaker green. The perfect spot for Penn students to dip their toes into crafting and making.

3. Engineering Labs

Now that you’ve frequented education commons and have become a more advanced maker, you may require some more heavy duty tools to scratch your crafting itch... let’s take a small detour to Penn Engineering! All of Penn’s Engineering buildings and labs are open to all (not just Engineering students!), with safety training required.

  1. Precision Machining Lab – TOWN 169 (Towne Building)

    1. Primary Department: Mechanical Engineering

    2. Tools: woodworking, metalworking, 3d printing, robotics, machine assembly

  2. The Detkin Lab – MOOR 101 (Moore Building)

    1. Primary Department: Electrical Engineering

    2. Tools: circuitry, electronics, sensors, everything hardware

c. The Materials Lab – LRSM Basement (Laboratory for Research on the Structure of Matter)

  1. Primary Department: Material Science and Engineering

  2. Tools: materials synthesis and characterization; the most advanced

    equipment in the field are available here and the list is far too long to recall in entirety.

d. Bioengineering Lab – SKIR 225 (Skirkanich Hall)

  1. Primary Department: Bioengineering

  2. Tools: molecular biology, physiology, microfluidics; over 500 bioengineering supplies available

Penn has so many resources available through amazing makerspaces – get out there and MAKE your dreams come true!

- Tony T.