Weiss Hall’s IDEA Center Begins to Fulfill Its Promise

Throughout construction of Robert S. '68 and Marilyn A. Weiss Hall, the 10,000 square-foot area on the first floor's northwest wing always had a purpose.

The vision was that it would serve as a "makerspace" or "innovation hub," two terms often used to describe the facility before it took on its official name: the IDEA Center - short for Innovation, Design, Education, Application - four things happening every day as it nears seven months of serving The University of Scranton and local communities.

"Whether you're doing an in-class project and need to bring ideas to life, or just trying to find a creative outlet, the Center has so many resources available for students, faculty and the surrounding community," said Allison Kipp '29, an IDEA Center work study and business analytics major from Pittston.

The IDEA Center has assisted 185-plus students and counting with class or personal creative projects, using 3-D design, CNC fabrication, graphic design or media production. The podcast studio alone has accommodated approximately 90 reservations.

Additionally, more than 400 community members have come through its doors, according to IDEA Center director Thomas Bryan, and it has served more than 200 of them with applied resources and programming.

"The Center has become a regional hub where educators, civic leaders, corporate teams and students collaborate through design-based learning, innovation and workforce-aligned experiences," Bryan said.

Recent visitors have included several dozen attendees at Campaign School, a free workshop organized by the University's Center for Ethics and Excellence in Public Service. The event provided aspiring political candidates and staffers with opportunities to network and learn what it takes to run a political campaign. Using the IDEA Center's large classroom space, the three current Lackawanna County Commissioners, former U.S. Sen. and current University of Scranton Leahy Distinguished Fellow in Public Service Bob Casey and prominent marketing professionals offered guidance at the event.

Many school-age children have visited the IDEA Center, as well, including students from the NEPA PAC After School Program who used the IDEA Center's industry-level design and fabrication tools to create personal brand images that were engraved onto wooden plaques. Students also went home with custom NEPA PAC T-shirts that they personally hand pressed.

The visit, which included five Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine students who volunteered to help, made for "an evening of creativity, innovation and hands-on learning," Bryan said.

"Experiences like that embody the mission of the IDEA Center," Bryan said. "Moving learners from consumers to creators and empowering young people across our region to see themselves as innovators, leaders and makers of their own future."

Weiss Hall also serves as the headquarters for the Departments of Psychology and of Criminal Justice, Cybersecurity and Sociology; the Small Business Development Center; Student Health Services; the University of Success; and the Center for Health, Education and Wellness.

Together, these academic units, student-support offices and University programs fulfill the charge given years ago by one of the building's benefactors.

"Get the idea, do basic research, apply the idea," Robert S. Weiss said at the 2024 naming announcement. "Then go out and 'set the world on fire.'"