The Alley Makerspace at Michigan Tech brings together creative minds, technical thinkers, and curious beginners to make ideas come to life. With its “low-barrier” mindset, the Alley welcomes students of all experience levels – offering the training they need to make anything they imagine in a safe and exhilarating atmosphere. Whether you’ve never touched a power tool or you’ve been building things your whole life, the Alley is a place to explore, learn, and create at your own pace. Everyone starts somewhere – and the Coaches are there to help every step of the way.
Managed by Dr. Shane Oberloier and a team of dedicated Coaches, the Alley provides the tools and training students need to take on any project. While many students use the space for engineering and design work, the possibilities extend far beyond that. Students can learn everything from sewing and quilting to crafting, soldering electronics, or woodworking with saws, drills, and lathes—and that’s just the beginning! All tools and supplies are free to use, and the training is quick and to the point, helping you get started on learning and making! With these skills, students can assemble things in any way for any project they desire. These projects can range from a class project to a gift for a relative to a prototype of a solution to a problem.
The staff and student Coaches foster confidence and curiosity by teaching real-world technical skills. Everyone is encouraged to experiment, collaborate, and learn from each other along the way. The Alley, with its large capacity and tools available, often hosts clubs and organizations, such as the Lego Club, Craft Club, and many more! The makerspace is also frequently used for classes, such as those related to the engineering design process or design thinking.
Creativity in the Alley often leads to unexpected (and unforgettable) projects. One memorable example, according to Student Operations Manager Samantha Neveau, is “a toilet that is particularly known to the coaches. Previous coaches made a mobile, remote-controlled toilet!” Neveau has been with the makerspace since Spring 2022, starting as a coach. She became a student manager in January 2024.
“The coolest things are the tools that we provide for use. Students don’t have the room in their dorms to keep power tools or the money to buy them in the first place. It is a place where you can have the space to work and be surrounded by people actually working on projects.”
The Alley’s inventory includes tools like the Cricut vinyl cutter, quilting machine, t-shirt heat press, and wood lathe – versatile equipment perfect for crafting, prototyping, or even launching a small business. Sponsors such as Milwaukee, Kimberly-Clark, Miller, and other local partners help keep the space well-supplied and running smoothly.
But what makes the Alley special isn’t just the tools – it’s the community. You’ll find students from every major sharing ideas, offering advice, and celebrating each other’s projects and successes.
The Alley is located in the basement of the Memorial Union Building (MUB) and is open Monday through Thursday from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. It’s open to all Michigan Tech students, staff, and makers of every kind. Stop by, meet the Coaches, and start creating – no experience needed!
Many students say that working in the Alley has helped them gain confidence, discover new passions, and even spark ideas for future careers or side projects. Follow the Alley Makerspace on Instagram and join their Discord to stay up to date on events, workshops, and new tools!
Your only limit is your imagination—so come see what you can make!