A new makerspace opening in fall 2017 in Carmichael Residence Hall was announced at the March Board of Trustees meeting. There are currently two open makerspaces on campus — one in Kenan Science Library and one in Hanes Art Center.
While the Carmichael location is still in the early stages of development, the Murray makerspace is nearing completion.
“The bigger space (in Murray) will have everything — entire digital, several 3-D printers, textiles, electronics, sewing machines, all sorts of electronics, a woodworking room and a metalworking room,” said Michelle Garst, program manager of UNC’s Be a Maker program.
The location in Murray will be 3,100 square feet, physics professor Richard Superfine said.
“Making is any place where you create things,” Superfine said. “It’s that broadly defined — scientists in the lab make things, the theater tech shop makes things and artists make things. It’s open to a wide range of people, and so there’s a wide range of activities that happen in the spaces.”
Garst said the makerspaces give students the opportunity to have diverse learning experiences.
“As students, you spend so much of your time sitting in a classroom listening to someone lecture, and you don’t have a lot of opportunity to do hands-on learning,” Garst said.
“We take an interdisciplinary approach. Regardless of department or class, it’s an opportunity for students and staff to work together across departments and across subject lines.”
