Innovate and Collaborate: Inside TSRB’s Maker Spaces

The Technology Square Research Building (TSRB) at Georgia Tech houses two invaluable community maker spaces that embody Tech Square's ethos of collaboration: the IPaT Prototyping Lab and Craft Lab. These spaces, overseen by research technologist Tim Trent, offer more than cutting-edge equipment; they create hubs of interdisciplinary collaboration, skill-building, and innovation among students, faculty, artists, startups, and external partners.

Tim Trent, a research technologist in IPaT (the Institute for People and Technology) with years of experience at Georgia Tech, is passionate about maker spaces' unique role in education and community-building. “Maker spaces are a physical manifestation of Tech Square’s collaborative spirit,” he says. "They bring people together through technology, fostering connections across institutes, departments, and beyond."

The IPaT Prototyping Lab is an experimental playground housing traditional “shop” tools where students and researchers can quickly turn concepts into tangible models. This lab hosts various tools, including laser cutters, woodworking equipment, drill presses, and more. It is an essential resource for students and faculty who must prototype rapidly, work with industry-standard equipment, and bring fresh ideas to life. Its hands-on approach and accessible layout make it a “messy space” by design — emphasizing creativity and collaboration over polished surfaces.

Just upstairs, IPaT’s Craft Lab takes a slightly different approach, focusing on computational craft, e-textiles, and soft electronics. It has textile-focused tools like sewing machines, industrial and desktop 3D printers, and even a computer-controlled knitting machine called the Kniterate. Combining traditional crafts with modern technology, the Craft Lab encourages a unique blend of art and engineering.

IPaT Prototyping Lab (Image: Noah Posner)

IPaT Craft Lab (Image: Noah Posner)

For the Tech Square community, these maker spaces serve as portals to connect ideas, disciplines, and people. Trent notes that the Craft and Prototyping Labs often introduce students to peers outside their colleges and majors, cultivating relationships that spark creativity. These spaces also enable affiliated companies, startups, and even local artists to access the maker spaces by partnering with Georgia Tech, bringing diverse expertise and perspectives. Students, faculty, staff, and partners working on Georgia Tech projects can visit IPaT’s website to learn more about the labs and how to get started.

In Trent's view, the maker spaces in TSRB serve as a bridge between academic theory and hands-on practice. Students learn to work with tools they may encounter in the workforce while also gaining the ability to make quick adjustments, test hypotheses, and bring abstract ideas to life. The value goes beyond skill acquisition; it lies in the connections that form when people from varied disciplines gather to build something new. As Trent puts it, “It’s all about building relationships through making.”