Where to Go in Kansas City to Build, Invent and Create
Hello makers, crafters, inventors, hackers, scientists and artists. Did you know that Kansas City is full of brick-and-mortar makerspaces to help you take your ideas from sketch to profitable business venture? These spaces offer tools, guidance and more.
Here are a few to check out:
Black and Veatch Makerspace at Johnson County Library
9875 W. 87th St.
Overland Park, Kansas 66212
Don’t have a 3D printer, recording studio or laser cutter at home? No problem, the JoCo Library has resources for you at the Black & Veatch MakerSpace. Use the studio, reserve equipment and let your imagination soar.
Services and tools include:
· 3D printing
· Computers and software
· Electronics
· Audio and visual equipment
· Sewing equipment
· CNC, vinyl and laser cutting
More on Black and Veatch Makerspace at Johnson County Library
Cherry Pit Collective
604 E. 31st St.
Kansas City, Missouri 64109
Cherry Pit Collective is a communal studio space. It serves artists, makers and creatives and emphasizes the work of women and non-binary people. The space is accessible for people using wheelchairs and mobility aids and can be reached via public transit or bike. Cherry Pit offers classes and membership-based studio areas.
The DIY Woodshop
201 Overland Park Place
New Century, Kansas 66031
This 10,000-square-foot shop will make any woodworker salivate. It’s designed for professionals and serious hobbyists. The DIY Woodshop offers memberships, and staff is on hand to provide guidance.
Services and tools include:
· Table, miter, band and scroll saws
· Jointers, planers and routers
· Drill presses
· Pocket hole machine
· Edge sander and lathes
· Mortiser
Ennovation Center
201 N. Forest Ave.
Suite 120
Independence, MO 64050
The Ennovation Center is a business incubator and accelerator. General business, technology, kitchen and bioscience startup businesses will find entrepreneurial support, furnished offices, kitchen and lab space at very competitive lease rates.
Services include: Conference and training rooms, kitchen facilities, janitorial services, mail service, notary public, secretarial services and COFFEE.
Services and tools include:
· Commercial kitchen space
· Furnished offices
· Lab space
· Business technology
· Conference and training rooms
More awesome makerspaces below …
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FabLab: Metropolitan Community College – Business & Technology
1775 Universal Ave.
Kansas City, Missouri 64120 
In the FabLab at MCC, you can conceptualize, design, develop, fabricate and test almost anything. If you’re an artist, engineer, tinkerer, inventor, student or own a businesses, the FabLab has the tools to make your craft better.
Services include:
· CNC router
· Woodworking
· Metalworking
· Laser cutter/engraver
· 3D printing and scanning
· CADD workstations
More on FabLab: MCC – Business & Technology
Hammerspace Workshop
5200 E. 54th St.
Kansas City, Missouri 64130
Hammerspace is a massive facility, home to Kansas City’s community of makers, crafters and inventors. It’s like a gym for folks who build and create. From rookies hoping to learn to experts looking for tools, machines and friends, this is the place to be.
Services and tools include:
· Wood and metalworking
· Silver and blacksmithing
· Welding, molding, casting and soldering
· Electronics, robotics and rocketry
· Air brushing
· 3D printing, silkscreen printing
· Laser cutting, CNC routing, CNC plasma cutting, vinyl cutting
· Classes and more
More on Hammerspace Community Workshop
InterUrban ArtHouse
8001 Newton St.
Overland Park, Kansas 66204
This regional artist hub offers camaraderie and cooperative studio space. It also provides programming in the areas of education, entrepreneurialism, studio excellence, community networking and healing arts.
More on the InterUrban ArtHouse
Inventors Center of Kansas City
ICKC provides a learning forum for inventors and entrepreneurs and those in allied fields. Their monthly meetings are free and open to the public. They guide their members through the idea development process all the way to distribution and licensing
More on Inventors Center of Kansas City
Kansas City Woodworkers’ Guild
3189 Mercier St.
Kansas City, Missouri 64111
The guild promotes the skill and craft of woodworking through classes, shop sessions and informal instruction. The shop covers 10,000 square feet of floor space and is managed by volunteer shop foremen who focus on safety.
More on Kansas City Woodworkers’ Guild
KC Clay Guild
200 W. 74th St.
Kansas City, Missouri 64114
This nonprofit ceramic arts center lets both new and veteran artists get their hands dirty. It provides classes, private lessons and workshops. KC Clay Guild offers clay, studio time, firing and artist-in-residence opportunities.
Made in Kansas City Creative Studios
1735-1739 Walnut St.
Kansas City, Missouri 64108
Made in Kansas City offers studio space to makers and creatives so that they can, you know, make great stuff in Kansas City.
Services and tools include:
· Natural-light photo studio
· Coworking space
· Open studios
· Private studios
· Shared kitchen
More on Made in Kansas City Creative Studios
Maker Village KC
606 E. 31st St.
Kansas City, Missouri 64109
Maker Village KC is a shared shop/creativity wonderland. Experienced builders can access high-quality equipment. Aspiring makers can take classes to build their skills and take advantage of Saturday open-shop sessions.
Services and tools include:
· Metalworking
· Woodworking
· Sandblasting
· Laser Cutting
· Classes
Technology Development Institute at Kansas State University
510 McCall Road
Manhattan, KS 66502
At The Technology Development Institute, experienced engineers and business professionals help move products into the marketplace. These experts help identify tasks that clients need to complete to move development projects forward.
Services and tools include:
· Project engineering and prototyping
· Intellectual property and commercialization assistance
· Design and fabrication of custom equipment
· Simulation and component analysis
More on Technology Development Institute: Kansas State University
Photos courtesy organizations’ websites and KCSourceLink staff
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