Idea Factory Expands After Just One Year
News Release — LOGAN, UTAH — Feb 14, 2018 — The College of Engineering expanded its Idea Factory to make more space for the growing number of student users.
The Idea Factory is a state-of-the-art design and fabrication facility which opened in the fall of 2017. The space originally opened with 1,600 square feet and in less than one year has expanded to 2,750 square feet.
Along with its 66 percent increase in floor space, the Idea Factory has also seen a 20 percent increase in patrons from fall 2017 to fall 2018.
“The purpose of our expansion was to create space that accommodates more students and to better fit all of our equipment,” said Leo Alfonseca, the Idea Factory manager.
Along with its 66 percent increase in floor space, the Idea Factory has also seen a 20 percent increase in patrons from fall 2017 to fall 2018 — double what administrators expected.
New equipment including a laser cutter/engraver, CNC mill, soldering stations, 3D printers, vinyl cutter and a vacuform machine were also added.
With more space, Alfonseca says the Idea Factory can now accommodate more students and host projects with more than 60 people in the lab at one time. The expansion divided the facility in two halves. Safety glasses are required in one half at all times and required only in some cases on the other half.
The Idea Factory is located in room 110 in the Sant Engineering Innovation Building. The lab is free and open to all USU students, faculty and staff. Priority is given to College of Engineering students. The machines in the lab run on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Visit IdeaFactory.usu.edu to learn more.
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Contact: Leo Alfonseca, leonardo.alfonseca@usu.edu, 435-757-7968
Writer: Jessica Jarman, eng.marketing@usu.edu