[KwartzLab] The ideal Kwartzlab

[doug moen]

Some more wish list items for Ideal Kwartzlab.

 * Ventilation has already been mentioned as a concern for the tool
room. I'd like to clarify that there should be a way to thoroughly air
out the entire tool room, in case of emergency.  [A garage door would
be one way; windows that open would be another way.]

 * It would be nice if Kwartzlab had an outdoor, semiprivate area
where we could do stuff that is better done outside. A back yard, if
you will. Diyode's pneumatic rocket launcher and Site3's crazy flame
effect machines are possible examples. Quadrocopters with video
cameras.  Bar-B-Q for parties. I'll classify this as nice-to-have, not
an absolute requirement.

Doug.

On 12 April 2012 05:21, doug moen <doug at moens.org> wrote:
> I would keep the lounge, but it could be smaller. ThinkHaus manages to
> have a perfectly nice lounge in much less space (it's used for
> SoOnSpace meetings). Our lounge is also used for a variety of club and
> group meetings. The lounge should be co-located with the drinks
> fridge, coffee maker and kitchen.
>
> I too would like a clean, functional kitchen that can be used for food
> prep. I'd put the kitchen sink in a different room from the sink that
> is used for washing chemicals off of etching projects. The latter can
> go in the dirty shop area.
>
> One of the outcomes from this planning exercise will be an estimate of
> minimum vs desired amount of floor space, plus information about how
> that floor space should be allocated for separate functions.
>
> The dirty shop room has:
>  - a door that provides a noise, dust and smell barrier
>  - a garage door to the outside (nice to have, not essential)
>  - an excellent ventilation system for dust and fumes
>  - laser cutter, shop bot, cnc mill, computers to control these
>  - wood and metal working machinery, welding
>  - kiln for clay and glass work
>  - a sink
>  - an enclosed area with excellent ventilation and dust protection,
> for painting and drying projects, and as fume hood
>  - member storage
>
> Lounge and kitchen:
>  - comfy couches surrounding a table
>  - drinks fridge, coffee maker, microwave, sink
>  - stove/oven, cupboards, counter space for food prep
>  - art + member project display
>
> Art/Electronics work room:
>  - soldering stations
>  - computer workstations
>  - 3D printer and vinyl cutter
>  - work benches
>  - art gallery + AIR studio
>  - member storage
>
> Party/Big Meeting room:
>  - chairs
>  - digital projector and screen
>  - sound system
>  - lectern
>  - bar
>
> We have quite successfully combined the last two functions in a single
> room, and it makes sense for certain kinds of presentations and
> workshops, but a different space might have different dynamics, so
> I've listed them separately. Site3 has these functions separated, on
> the first and second floor.
>
> On 11 April 2012 22:55, Ben Brown <ben at generik.ca> wrote:
>> Improved Capabilities:
>>
>> - Metalworking/welding(!)
>> - Proper ventilation
>> - More project storage for members
>> - Garage door
>> - Better (or rather, functional!) kitchen
>> - Shopbot!
>>
>> Honestly I don't care a whole lot about having a lounge (except for the
>> library). If space was an issue, it'd be the first area of Kwartzlab I'd
>> get rid of. I also still prefer ground level space (or alternatively,
>> access to a beefy elevator).
>>
>> I would also like to see the lab stay in the downtown core. Aside from
>> the bus terminal/upcoming LRT, the area is really starting to take off
>> as far as cool new things, startups, projects and other groups to
>> co-mingle with.  It's also decently centralized in the region between
>> Waterloo and Cambridge. I don't think a storefront location would suit us.
>>
>> Cheers,
>> Ben
>>
>> On 4/11/2012 10:07 PM, Darcy Casselman wrote:
>>> I wanna get a discussion going.
>>>
>>> Recognizing that the Boehmer Box might not be our home forever, we
>>> (that being the board, mostly) have started to talk to other groups
>>> and organizations about what opportunities might be out there for a
>>> long-term home.
>>>
>>> **DISCLAIMER**: We've not moving unless we have to, or unless
>>> something really awesome comes up.  We're just investigating options.
>>> Any decision to move, or any other similar big changes will be made at
>>> a general meeting of the members.  I'm not posting this to panic
>>> anybody.  Frankly, there's nothing to panic about.  We're just
>>> acknowledging that our neighbourhood is changing and our lovely $5/sq
>>> ft rent may well start going up sometime in the medium term.
>>>
>>> But that's not what I wanted to start a discussion about.
>>>
>>> What would an ideal Kwartzlab look like to you?
>>>
>>> More square feet?  Semi-private or rentable work space?  Fewer square
>>> feet for easier maintenance?
>>>
>>> If we had to change locations, where would you want to go?  Should we
>>> fight to stay in the downtown?  How about Waterloo or Cambridge?
>>> Access to transit or the expressway?
>>>
>>> Amenities?  Washrooms, showers, kitchen stuff?  An loungier lounge?
>>>
>>> More woodshop stuff?  More fablab stuff?  More coworking stuff?
>>>
>>> An autoshop?  Heavy machinery?  Greasy, messy stuff?  Garage door access?
>>>
>>> Or maybe a more welcoming store front sort of location?
>>>
>>> Sketch it out for me.
>>>
>>> For non-members, what kind of Kwartzlab would you be willing to pony
>>> up membership fees for?  Are we missing facilities, tools, etc. that
>>> would convince you to join?
>>>
>>> This is brainstorming.  There are no bad ideas.  :D
>>>
>>> Darcy.
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Discuss mailing list
>>> Discuss at kwartzlab.ca
>>> http://kwartzlab.ca/mailman/listinfo/discuss_kwartzlab.ca
>>
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