Creative Common Inc. is set to begin work on its planned makerspace thanks to a recent grant from the province’s new From the Ground Up - Safe Healthy Communities For All Program.
Up to $80,000 was awarded to the group to help with renovations to the main floor of its building on Second Avenue Northwest.
“It’s a $100,000 project to get the upstairs open, which is where the 3D printers are and the soldering stations and the classroom and a wood shop,” said Creative Common spokesperson Martijn van Luijin.
“So we are now going to be able to do all that, because we have enough to match the funds. We were a little bit short, but that’s why we were fund raising.”
van Luijin added two new bathrooms will be added to the space, while the building’s owner is planning to add a new facade and upgrade the electrical panel.
While it seems as if the project has been stalled, van Luijin said the group is ready to execute its plan in short order.
“We have already started the plan. We’re already getting contractors to come in and take a look at it and electricians,” van Luijin said.
“So we’ve been waiting for this, because we’ve been sitting on our hands. For about six months we just talked about it and now we are hitting the go button.”
The project’s schedule will depend on how quickly tradespeople can begin, but the group is not resting on its laurels as planning is well underway to the develop the basement space with further amenities.
Plans already include a podcasting studio and a sewing lab, but there is additional space available
for other disciplines.
“We are tossing around some ideas, but we are at the beginning stages,” van Luijin said.
“We’re thinking about a VR room where you can wear virtual goggles and do programming and stuff like that, but we haven’t really talked about that very much. That’s expensive, so we’ll see.”
He added there are also code issues to consider such as egress. With just one set of stairs currently leading to the basement, a second exit will need to be incorporated.
The group is also exploring some strategic partnerships and is in discussions with the local library to increase accessibility.
“So, say you don’t have the money to get a (Creative Common) membership, but you still want to try 3D printing,” van Luijin said.
“If you have a library membership you could borrow a membership card for say three weeks and get introduced to it and get to meet other people doing it.”
The same kind of partnership is being worked out with Community Futures Parkland.
“For new entrepreneurs that want to maybe work on a prototype of something,” he said.
“But nothing is firmed up yet. We’re just all trying to figure this out.”
In the meantime van Luijin said the fund-raising will continue in an effort to make the space as special as possible.
“I have another grant program application in for some green initiatives around the building, but that hasn’t been decided yet,” he said, adding you can never have too much money.
“There’s no such thing.”
