A simple idea from a group of passionate students has become a vibrant new addition to Heidelberg’s campus: The Hub, a makerspace designed for creativity, collaboration, and hands-on learning.
The vision began nearly three years ago when students Abagail Nagy ‘24 and Jessica Harness-Koehnle ‘24 had an idea. They were at a standstill for a year and a half, so they approached Director of Student Affairs Aaron Nelson with a proposal. They wanted a space where Heidelberg students could design, build, and bring their ideas to life. Although their proposal faced roadblocks, they refused to give up. With $6,000 in donations already secured for 3D printers, all they needed was a room and some support.
That’s when Aaron stepped in. “My passion wasn’t the machines themselves,” he explained. “It was seeing students wanting this space and not getting help. I wanted to show them that if you put in the work, it can become reality.”
Over the course of four months, the students and Aaron drafted a 50-page proposal, gathered petitions from peers, and connected with departments across campus. Five months later, approval came through, though not for the room they originally requested. Instead, Pfleiderer 112 would become the home of The Hub.
A room full of possibilities
Today, The Hub is stocked with resources for any kind of project:
3D Printers using both 1.75 and 2.75 filament, with a decade’s worth of filament donated by Mitsubishi Polymers in Bellevue.
Cricut machines for vinyl, paper, and fashion design projects.
Colored paper, stencils, and button makers for student organizations, classroom prep, or event decorations.
Design software is installed on computers for slicing, blending, and modeling projects.
Whether you’re prototyping a new invention, crafting homecoming buttons, or experimenting with your first 3D design, The Hub is designed to be a flexible and open space. It will be available to all students, staff, and employees, free of charge, during the week (excluding nights and weekends) after the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The Forge: A club for makers
Alongside the physical space, a new student organization has launched: The Forge, a club dedicated to supporting The Hub and sparking collaboration across campus.
The Forge meets Mondays at 7 p.m. in Pfleiderer 110 and is currently welcoming new members as the team forms. The club’s advisor is Professor Brandon VanNess, Professor of Chemistry, who has quickly become one of the most passionate supporters of the makerspace.
“You can tell this space lit a spark for him,” Aaron said. “The way he talks about it, the excitement, it’s contagious. That kind of passion is what will keep this space alive.”
Membership in The Forge is free, and the group is open to anyone curious about making, designing, or experimenting. Whether you want to lead projects, learn new skills, or just try something creative, The Forge offers a chance to get involved from the ground up.
How to get involved
Feel free to stop by The Hub in Pfleiderer 112 (open weekdays, free to use).
Join The Forge club: Mondays at 7 p.m., Pfleiderer 110.
Questions? Reach out to Aaron or Brandon for details.
Looking ahead
The Hub is just getting started. Aaron envisions adding hot glue guns, a heat press, and more computers for design in the future. Long-term, he hopes the space will outgrow its current room and expand into something larger..
But first, the campus community will come together to celebrate. Aimed for the week of October 27, during the Board of Trustees’ fall meetings, The Hub will hold its official ribbon-cutting. Every printer will be running, finished projects will be on display, and participants will get hands-on time with design software.
For Aaron, that moment will mark the conclusion of nearly two years of work.
“That ribbon cutting is going to feel like the finish line for me. This has been a long journey, but it’s proof that student ideas can become reality.”
And for the Heidelberg community, it’s just the beginning of what’s possible when creativity meets opportunity.