Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

A "Tinker Lab" for Young Students Opens in Pa. School

  • By Yvonne Marquez
  • 09/17/19

Germantown Academy, a PreK-12 private school in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania, recently gained a new makerspace aimed at younger students. In the makerspace, known as the “Tinker Lab,” PreK-5 students are able to problem solve through hands-on activities and be more engaged in learning.

In the makerspace, known as the “Tinker Lab,” PreK-5 students are able to problem solve through hands-on activities and overall be more engaged in learning.

The Tinker Lab is equipped with a laser cutter, 3-D printer, workstations, an industrial sink, kitchenette and hand tools. The space used to be a PreK-2 grade space but as part of their improvements, the school decided to expand the space so that all students in the Lower School would be able to use it.

“All kids really love using their hands and making and building, so this space allows for that movement and that engagement to happen.” Jessica Killo, PreK-12 STEAM Coordinator, said in a video about the Tinker Lab.

The makerspace, designed by 1100 Architect, a New York-based design firm, includes a garage door for indoor-outdoor use and that allows natural light into the room.  

The Tinker Lab is equipped with a laser cutter, 3-D printer, workstations, an industrial sink, kitchenette and hand tools

In addition to the Tinker Lab, 1100 Architect renovated the Lower School’s entrance and parent gathering space, science classrooms and corridors. In 2016, the firm also upgraded a computer lab and part of the library into the Beard Center for Innovation, a makerspace and robotics lab.

“The new Tinker Lab provides something so important to young students — a place to be creative, to test ideas, to collaborate with peers, and to understand classroom lessons in tangible ways,” Gwen Conners, lead designer of the firm’s projects at Germantown Academy, said in a press release. “The Tinker Lab and the Beard Center for Innovation allow students of all ages a chance to engage in hands-on learning, and they help distinguish Germantown Academy as a leader of 21st century education.”

About the Author

Yvonne Marquez is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • New Jersey Day School Opens New Science & Entrepreneurship Building

    Saddle River Day School (SRDS) in Saddle River, N.J., recently celebrated the grand opening of the new Dr. Kristen Walsh Hall of Science & Entrepreneurship, according to a news release. The school partnered with DIG Architecture on the 32,000 square foot facility, completed on a 17-month construction timeline in time for the beginning of the new school year.

  • Western Kentucky University, Gilbane Announce “Elevate WKU” Partnership

    Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Ky., recently announced that it has reached the financial close on a on a public-private partnership (P3) with Gilbane Development, according to a news release.

  • UNH Marks Construction Milestone on Oceanic Exploration Facility

    The University of New Hampshire in Durham, N.H., recently celebrated a major construction milestone with a beam-signing ceremony for the new Center of Excellence for Operational Ocean and Great Lakes Mapping, according to a news release. The facility’s ultimate goal is to support research, training and technical assistance in ocean mapping.

  • California District Opens New Robotics Center

    The Fremont Union High School District (FUHSD) in Cupertino, Calif., recently held a Grand Opening ceremony for a new, district-wide Robotics Center, according to a news release. The 14,500-square-foot facility was designed by Quattrocchi Kwok Architects (QKA); Landmark Constructors served as the builder and Blach Construction as general construction manager.