About

MakeShift @ Turbine Flats will be a space that serves as a community gathering point for makers, tinkerers and D.I.Y-ers. We will explore and create intersections between technology, science, art, and culture. It is crucial that these experiences are interest-driven and hands-on.

We intend to promote the act of making through exhibitions, projects, workshops, and other public activities. A makerspace, tool & book library, workshop space, classrooms, computer labs will allow for people to gather and cross-pollinate in ideas and knowledge.

MakeShift is a community-operated workspace where people with common interests, often in science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics, can meet, create, socialize, and collaborate. Also referred to as a hacklab or hackspace, “Fab Lab,” and tech shop.

MakeShift is housed at the Turbine Flats Project, located at 22nd & Y streets. The organization has successfully transformed an old and vacant warehouse into office spaces. The businesses inside attract an array of clients and friends of the neighborhood. Many tenants, past and present, have started successful projects and businesses inside of these walls.

MakeShift resides in the Clinton neighborhood, which spans from Vine St. to Holdredge St. and 17th to 33rd Streets. The average household income is between $22,000 and $27,000. It is intended that MakeShift prove to be a catalyst and anchor-point for technological growth and economic development driven by the members of this neighborhood. Having access to basic tools can help people complete home improvement projects economically, start gardens, eat locally, and get to know their neighbors.

Additionally, the future is bright for students learning skills in engineering, coding, web development, and graphic design. As the job market becomes increasingly oriented towards use of advanced technology, it is important to educate people how to use these tools. Lincoln, Nebraska is growing and MakeShift will help fuel this growth.