When you walk into Old Dominion University’s Brooks Crossing Innovation Lab in Newport News, you’ll probably hear the whirring of a 3D printer, see a laser cutter engraving an item or spot a robot being coded to move objects around.
Opened in 2019, the iLab is a private-public partnership between Old Dominion and the City of Newport News to provide hands-on STEM instruction and resources for students and community members.
Their equipment includes 3D, UV and direct-to-garment printers; vinyl cutters and heat presses, laser cutters and more.
In fall 2023 alone, they held more than 70 events and engaged with over 900 youth and 300 adults. Some of their regular programs include a family makerspace series sponsored by Verizon where families are invited to learn a new skill through an activity such as creating a graphic design in Canva or using electrical components to make a light switch.
“What’s really great about that is we have multiple generations coming together to learn together,” said Kaitlyn McCoy, program manager for the iLab.
She said they average around 30 people per session and the program is free and open to the public.
The iLab also holds an open makerspace for community members and small-business owners to come in and use their equipment for projects like screen-printing and engraving. The only cost for the program is for consumables they use.
“That is part of ODU’s commitment to the community,” said Karen Sanzo, director of the Institute for Design Thinking and Leadership Development at ODU and director of the iLab.
Maritime is also a key focus for the iLab and the ODU’s lab school, the Maritime Engineering and Environmental Studies Academy, which will begin Fall 2025 and will be housed in their facility.
“We say maritime and we’re surrounded by water, but a lot of students don’t know what that is or haven’t been in or near the water, so our goal is really just to kind of dip their toes in,” said McCoy, who leads several K-12 summer programs geared toward the industry.
Earlier this summer, McCoy led a Mariner’s Adventurer STEAM Summer Camp that she co-developed with Newport News Public Schools for rising 8th- and 9th-graders that included a trip to the Mariner’s Museum in Newport News, environmental cleanup activities and projects aimed at addressing challenges to the maritime industry. Students also heard from maritime professionals, including representatives from; Colonna’s Shipyard; the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; QED Systems, Inc.; the Naval Museum of Hampton Roads; the Hampton Roads Workforce Council; Youth Sailing Virginia; Crofton Industries; Collins Machine Works; East Coast Repair and Fabrication; the U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command; and CV International.
The iLab also gives ODU students and faculty a chance to share knowledge and engage with the community. McCoy and a team of ODU interns regularly work with Momentum 180, an organization helping individuals impacted by disabilities.
“The goal is just to get them engaged and help them gain technology skills,” McCoy said.
To learn more about programs and resources at the Brooks Crossing iLab, visit their website.