Directory

Circular Economy

For Young Makers

Bit Space

2541 W Lawrence Ave, Chicago, IL 60625

Students work with Guides to learn how to use hand tools, power tools, electronics, robotics, 3d printers, laser cutters, CNC milling machines, computer modeling and design software, computer game development software, virtual reality, and new media to design and build just about anything.

YOUmedia Chicago

YOUmedia Chicago is an innovative, 21st century teen digital learning space at 19 Chicago Public Library locations. With an emphasis on digital media and the maker movement, teens engage in projects across a variety of core content areas including graphic design, photography, video, music, 2D/3D design, STEM and hands-on making. YOUmedia connects young adults, books, media, mentors and institutions throughout Chicago in dynamic spaces designed to inspire collaboration and creativity.

Hackerspaces

Fox.Build

11 East Main Street, St. Charles, IL 60174

Whether writing code, carving wood, building machines, or solving a problem members here are all about creating. The collaborative energy and creative atmosphere foster the makers, inventors, hackers, and learners to continue, in whatever medium. Sawdust mixes with the digital in this space and beautiful things result.

Polsky Exchange FabLab

1463 E. 53rd St., 2nd Floor, Chicago, IL 60615

The Fab Lab, located at the Polsky Exchange, offers entrepreneurs opportunities to transform their ideas into physical objects to share, test and perfect.

South Side Hackerspace Chicago

1048 W 37th St, #105, Chicago, IL 60609

The South Side Hackerspace is a collection of nerds, makers, tinkerers, doers, hackers, artists, students, teachers, and other creatives. We meet in Chicago’s Bridgeport neighborhood, where we teach, learn, make, and socialize in our educational and collaborative community space.

Workshop 88

481 N Main St, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137

Workshop 88 is a hackerspace located in Chicago’s western suburbs. Focused on science, technology, mechanics, culture and the digital arts, offering a space where people with diverse backgrounds can socialize, collaborate, learn and make.

Industry

Makerspaces

AIBI Fashion Lab

4255 N Knox Ave Ste 175, Chicago, IL 60641

The Apparel Industry Board Inc. Fashion Lab (AIBI Fashion Lab) is a shared manufacturing space for sewing professionals. The lab features industrial sewing machines, cutting tables, a co-working space, and one-on-one training. The organization also provides mentoring programs, scholarships, seminars, technical training, job assistance, and more.

CPL Maker Lab

400 S State St. Chicago, IL 60605

The Maker Lab, Chicago’s first free and publicly accessible maker space, is on the 3rd floor of Harold Washington Library Center. The Maker Lab features introductory workshops and open shop for personal projects and collaboration. We encourage you to explore the full range of making, both high-tech and hands-on.

Workspaces

2112

4245 N. Knox Avenue Chicago, IL 60641

Located within the 160,000 sq ft B2B creative industry ecosystem of Fort Knox Studios, 2112 is Chicago's first incubator focused on the development of entrepreneurs and disruption in music, film/video and creative technology.

mHub

965 W. Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60642

An innovation center for physical product development and manufacturing. Featuring a prototyping lab and entrepreneurial community of product designers, developers, entrepreneurs, engineers & manufacturers.

Polsky Exchange

1452 E. 53rd St., Chicago, IL 60615

Operated by the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, the Polsky Exchange is a 34,000 square foot startup hub featuring co-working space, a state-of-the-art Fabrication Lab, and a full calendar of programming and workshops designed to help entrepreneurs translate their ideas and technologies into startups.