CEPS Makerspace Booming After Donor Funding Helps Open Doors

When the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences (CEPS) officially unveiled the CEPS Makerspace in September of 2023, it represented the fulfillment of a vision Kevan Carpenter, director of the CEPS Technical Services Center, had been hoping to bring to life for years.

But he wondered if the students - the primary intended audience for the co-working space focused on innovation and creativity - would find the resource as valuable as he did.

He's not wondering anymore.

In its first year of operation, the Makerspace was used for the creation of close to 840 projects by visitors from all five UNH colleges and 24 degree programs. At its busiest, the space welcomes as many as 120 visitors per day, and since it opened the total number of projects completed has climbed to more than 1,200.

Consider the traffic concerns assuaged.

"The vision for me was to develop a collaborative, highly visible, welcoming space that freshmen, sophomores, juniors, seniors and faculty and staff all feel comfortable in to bring their creative ideas to fruition. I had a feeling it might be busy, but I wasn't sure," Carpenter says. "I believe strongly in interdisciplinary and collaborative work - that's where we see the intersection of our engineers and our science minds with business minds and others. It's where we see the greatest gifts back to society through creative ideas."

The idea for the Makerspace had existed for several years, but it was donor funding that ultimately pushed it over the finish line. The space required the purchase of a significant amount of equipment - those using the space have access to things like 3D printers, laser cutters and scanners, a band saw, a drill press, a sewing machine and much more - and must be staffed throughout the day.

The equipment alone cost about $100,000, Carpenter says, and given the budget challenges that UNH has faced in recent years, the project would almost certainly not have gotten off the ground without the generosity of UNH donors. Donor support funded the space's first year of operating costs.

"Donor funding is so critical," Carpenter says. "It's so great to be at a university where the opportunities for these students like we can offer in the makerspace have been made possible through generous philanthropy. And we hope to be able to continue to grow that even more."

Carpenter's vision was a space where visitors could comfortably work on any creative project, whether it be for school or for personal reasons, and the wide variety of projects to come through the door during the first year has certainly highlighted success in that area. Carpenter has seen students make cutting boards for family members at Christmas but has also witnessed the UNH sailing team use the sewing machine to repair sails and students from the Formula SAE precision racing team build parts for a racecar, 3D scanning a model of an engine to see how it would fit into the frame they were building.

Pedro Doukas '26, a mechanical engineering major and student employee at the Makerspace, recalls a recent visit from the UNH Magic Wheelchair club during which a group of occupational therapy students made Halloween costumes for children in wheelchairs.

"I loved their goal so much that when they walked in, I joined immediately," Doukas says. "They used the Makerspace to sew together fabric for a hat and used tools for cutting and glueing body panels, an electronic station to create lighting and lifting systems and 3D printing for attachments."

The space is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and is staffed by students like Doukas, who can train visitors on the equipment they would like to use. Carpenter has eight students on staff this fall but hopes to build to 10 in the spring, when the space tends to be busier.

Cassie Lafleur '26 became a frequent visitor to the Makerspace last fall while working on several projects for class and has since become a student employee. She helps supervise the space and train students and staff on various pieces of equipment, specializing in the Sailrite sewing machine.

"My favorite part about the Makerspace is the welcoming community that it has built," Lafleur says. "It creates the perfect atmosphere for collaborative learning, which has enhanced my understanding of the material in several of my courses."

The students are incredibly grateful to the UNH donors who made it all possible, as they have seen up close the tangible benefits both the CEPS and university community have already experienced from having access to the Makerspace.

"I would just say thank you. Their donations have made such a difference in a short time," Doukas says. "Students have been able to complete class and personal projects at a much higher standard than before and have done so earlier in their undergraduate experience."

Adds Lafleur: "I don't think I can thank our donors enough for their financial support. I'm glad that members of the UNH community recognize the importance of the Makerspace on our campus and choose to support resources like this. Without that generosity, students might not have access to the services we offer to make their projects come to fruition."

Building on the immediate success, Carpenter is hoping to continue growing and expanding access to opportunities in the Makerspace. He would eventually like to have a full-time staff member on board focused solely on the space and working with the student employees, and he'd also like to be able to offer additional morning hours, which would allow more classes to visit. Another idea is the creation of video tutorials so people can get trained to use the equipment and have a visual reference on hand while working.

No matter where it goes from here, though, the space has already been a huge success in Carpenter's eyes. From a vision he first had years ago to the philanthropy-fueled outlet being accessed by hundreds of members of the UNH community on a monthly basis, the Makerspace has met and exceeded his expectations.

"It feels great. I get enjoyment from seeing the smiles on their faces when visitors are in there, knowing they are being creative and are doing what they love to do," Carpenter says. "That just makes me feel very proud of what we've been able to establish."

Want to support the CEPS Makerspace or any other area of UNH that means the most to you? Visit our giving page to explore all of your options to make a gift.

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