OriginLabs, a prototyping and fabrication space, will open to the public at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, March 22, at the Eric J. Barron Innovation Hub.

OriginLabs’ purpose is to make state-of-the-art equipment accessible to the public. The 7,000-square-foot facility includes areas for woodworking, metalworking, welding, 3D printing, and more.

OriginLabs’ opening is a part of Startup Week, which is Penn State’s annual entrepreneurship conference.

Folks can check out “The OriginLabs Experience,” at 10 a.m. on Thursday, March 23, to learn about and work with welding tools and robotics.

OriginLabs Director Ryan Mandell and Shop Manager Jose Nunez believe the space will lower the cost and barriers to entry for aspiring entrepreneurs.

The facility will house computers with 3D modeling and CAD software. Metal sintering, stereolithography, and polyjet are a few of the various 3D modeling technologies available.

This 3D-printed pizza slice is one of the many items you could create.

Mandell is the director of OriginLabs. He hopes to provide world-class prototyping facilities to students, faculty, community members, and local businesses.

The new facility is located at 123 S. Burrowes Street in downtown State College. The two-floor facility begins on the ground floor of the the 85,000-square-foot Innovation Hub.

Trainings, workshops, and consulting will be open to everyone — and at no cost.

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