Mills and kilns and lathes, oh my! Kitchener's Kwartzlab is a maker's dream
The member-run, not-for-profit maker space provides tools, community connections and learning opportunities
For artists and creators like Pamela Rojas, Kwartzlab in Kitchener, Ont., is a "gem inside the city."
The 9,000-square-foot space is a dream for makers of all sorts who don't have the room in their own houses for large, heavy machinery like mills, lathes, looms and more.
For $62 a month, members have 24/7 unlimited access to all that the Kwartzlab has to offer.
The non-profit maker society boasts a metal shop, wood shop, textiles area, electronics area, laser cutting and a "which" craft lab that houses 3D printers, a clicker press and much more.
The Kwartzlab started 15 years ago with around 15 to 20 members. Today, it has about 180. Run by a board of seven members, president Konstantin Papadakis said joining the Kwartzlab is similar to a gym membership.
"You come in, you get a tour, we do a little interview process, more of a get-to-know-you kind of process." said Papadakis.
After checking with the rest of the board and members, they collectively decide whether or not someone is a good fit for the Kwartzlab.
"We are very protective of our community and our members. We want everyone to feel safe and comfortable and happy to work here," he said.
The Kwartzlab also runs a weekly open house on Tuesdays that is free to the public. From 7 p.m to 10 p.m., people who are curious about the space are invited to come in for a tour of the facilities, meet makers and potentially learn a thing or two through a member-run workshop.
Meet some of the members
Joseph Duchesne joined the Kwartzlab in 2019. He uses the metal shop to make custom battle robots.
But he also leans on other members to learn how to use different power tools in the lab.
"There's a community of ... experts at tinkering, at pushing the boundaries of arts and crafts and making. And so joining that community and being able to just ask simple questions that's been the most invaluable thing for me," said Duchesne.
WATCH | Joseph Duchesne shows off his battle bots made at the Kwartzlab:
On top of being a one-stop shop for creators, Kwartzlab also runs an artist-in-residence program. An artist is selected by the board and sponsored by a member, and given a free four-month membership to work on installations.
"Also to give back to the community at large and allow them to show their artwork and skills," said Papadakis.
Pamela Rojas, the current artist in residence, has been using the space to work on large art installations made out of recycled materials like cardboard, paper rolls, dust, old tiles and more.
"I've been working for a couple of years to try to be in recycling ... giving objects a second life," said Rojas.
Working and using machines at Kwartzlab wouldn't be possible without members who are willing to help out with modifications and improvements around the lab.
Neil Eaton has been a member for 10 years and manages the wood shop. As an engineer, Eaton is used to doing technical stuff and fixing machines.
He spends a lot of his time in the the lab, working on repairs around the space.
"The opportunity to do something with my hands and to meet other people was just a great opportunity ... I fell in love with [Kwartzlab] as soon as I walked in," said Eaton.
When it was time to expand the building, Eaton was quick to offer his help with the expansion, adding walls and helping to design.
While he does work on his own projects, one of Eaton's most prized creations is a set of adjustable workbenches he recently made for the wood shop.
"Honestly, these benches are one of the things I'm proudest of," said Eaton.
"There's three things we offer members. One is the tools, which are obvious ... The other thing is a space," said Eaton.
"The third thing we offer is community ... we help each other out, we learn from each other — just a fun group of people to hang out with."
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