The Largest Makerspace On The Planet Opens In Columbus, Ohio

Announced as far back as January, the efforts of founder Alex Bandar, COO Casey McCarty and Shop/Production Manger Matt Hatcher have finally come to fruition; the Columbus Idea Foundry — a 65,000 square ft. “makerspace” in the heart of Columbus, Ohio — is open in its brand new location.

The new space, nestled in a downtown district called Franklinton, celebrated its official open house yesterday and it is going to mean a lot to central Ohio.

What is it though? According to Hatcher and McCarty, it is “the largest community ‘makerspace’ on the planet.” Built in a 100-year-old shoe factory, it’s kind of like a gymnasium for people who want to make things.

You pay a monthly membership fee of $35 and then an hourly fee to use a multitude of different tools to make that thing you need — be it a 3D printed prototype, a piece of jewelry, a CNC metal…