The nasty old carpet is gone, interesting patterns have been painted on the walls, tools from lathes to soldering irons to sewing machines have arrived, and Concord is officially part of the state’s makerspace scene.
“The fire department says we can open, so we’re open!” said Laura Miller, president of the board of Making Matters N.H., which has turned 8,500 square feet of the former Beede Electric Building in Penacook into the state’s sixth makerspace.
Makerspaces can be thought of as membership gyms for do-it-yourselfers, with tools, instruments and workspaces for use by members and the public, along with classes, training and often a sense of community. Making Matters N.H. has full memberships with access to all the facilities for $50 a month and sustaining memberships, with access to classes and events, for $25.
The space has a woodworking room, a metal shop, a photo and…