are change agents and unique problem solvers. If we can build dynamic places that bring creative people togeth- er, then we can strengthen Baltimore’s human, social and economic capital in new ways,” says Bonitz.
The shared makerspace will support BARCO’s efforts to attract, retain and educate skilled workers. Also, tax breaks are available to those who utilize the space for business purposes.
The facility is positioned at the southeast corner of the Station North Arts and Entertainment District, Maryland’s first designated arts district, which is full of artist live-work spaces, galleries, row houses and businesses. According to Bonitz, the area surrounding Open Works has high unem- ployment rates, partly due to decades of disinvestment.
FLEXIBLE FACTORIES TRANSFORM DREAMS INTO REALITY
The Coastal Exterior Services Inc. crew applies stucco to repair the facility’s east-facing façade.
modeling and fabrication, and more. Day passes are $25 and monthly memberships range from $70 to $125. The venue also hosts educational classes, special events and social gatherings, and serves as a networking hub to in- crease employment opportunities.
“We believe Open Works is an important incubation facility to grow small companies and allow entrepreneurs to proto- type new products. We have a unique opportunity to bring diverse entrepreneurs together to combine design thinking and technology in new ways,” says Amy Bonitz, President and CEO of the Baltimore Arts Realty Corporation (BARCO).
BARCO, an independent nonprofit real estate develop- ment entity created by The Robert W. Deutsch Founda- tion, purchased the property in 2013. The foundation invests in people, projects and ideas that promote arts and culture, economic and community development, and social justice for citizens throughout Baltimore and the Mid-Atlantic region.
BARCO’S primary goal is to create safe, affordable, and ac- cessible spaces for Baltimore’s citizens. “Creative people
Three years ago, architect and furniture craftsman Will Holman was hired by The Robert W. Deutsch Foundation to determine the best practices for 21st century makerspac- es. Now, he serves as the General Manager of Open Works.
“I’ve always been a maker and a tinkerer. I hadn’t thought about makerspaces a whole lot until I got this job, and then I was plunged into researching it full-time,” shares Holman. “This kind of flexible factory allows you to make up just about anything you can dream up.”
Holman emphasizes that makerspaces are collaborative environments that fuel not just inventiveness and creative thinking, but also generate networking prospects.
“There is this powerful cultural myth of the ‘lone genius inventor,’ like Steve Jobs or Thomas Edison. But these folks didn’t get anywhere without a team of smart people around them,” states Holman. “Physical makerspaces ag- gregate a lot of really smart people under one roof. When you have all of these people just brewing together, it makes everyone more likely to succeed.”
There are over 300 confirmed active makerspaces in the country and eight are right in Baltimore, including The Foundery, Station North Tool Library, Baltimore Hackerspace, and Fab Lab Baltimore. Holman predicts that these structures are primed to become a typical building type within a couple of decades.
10
THE WHO’S WHO IN BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION
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COURTESY OF KARL CONNOLLY PHOTOGRAPHY
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