A membership library to borrow all kinds of tools, the Chicago Tool Library is a community nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide equitable access to tools, equipment, and information to allow all Chicagoans to learn, share, and create.
Directory
Circular Economy
FreeGeek Chicago
A not-for-profit community organization that recycles used computers and parts to provide functional computers, education, internet access and job skills training to those who want them.
Rebuilding Exchange
A nonprofit social enterprise that repurposes building materials and provides job training while creating a market for reclaimed building materials.
For Young Makers
Bit Space
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.
Chicago Children's Museum - Tinkering Lab
This DIY maker-space lets kids experiment with real tools to design their own creations. The TinkerLab features professionally trained staff, visiting engineers, and special programs.
Edgewater Workbench
A makerspace with access to laser cutting and 3D printing near the Thorndale Red Line offering after school programs.
Kid Science Labs
Offering classes, summer camps, day camps, birthday parties, and field trips for kids.
LevelUP IRL
Home to Agape Werks and the Chicago Knights Robotics Team, LevelUP IRL is a makerspace or third place where teens learn by tinkering and making items that are interactive, kinetic, and intelligent.
MSI FabLab
Part of the MIT network of Fab Labs, which are all over the world! The Fab Lab evolved from the Center for Bits and Atoms, and from a class called "How to Make (almost) Anything."
Robot City Workshop
Robot City Workshop is a multi-purpose storefront offering kits, parts, workshops and event space.
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
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
The Fab Lab, located at the Polsky Exchange, offers entrepreneurs opportunities to transform their ideas into physical objects to share, test and perfect.
Pumping Station 1
The original Chicago hackerspace, take your making to the next level. Two levels of membership. Some events open to the public, including orientations.
South Side Hackerspace Chicago
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.
Industry
Makerspaces
AIBI Fashion Lab
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.
Chicago Industrial Arts & Design Center
Metalworking, woodworking, and casting available to members or students of the space.
Chicago Maker Space
A creators workplace in an open studio style environment offering a fully equipped workshop along with personal studio spaces.
CPL Maker Lab
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.
Lilstreet Arts Center
A friendly Chicago art center that offers artist residency programs, an art gallery, studio space as well as art classes at all levels for both adults and kids.
Make Chicago
A community workshop and maker space located in the heart of Bridgeport.
Workspaces
2112
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
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
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.