Where can you build a scale model theme park attraction, assemble dozens of robotics kits for kids, or fabricate a race car to compete on this summer’s Nebraska dirt tracks? Look no further than the “Garage” inside Kiewit Hall.
Located on two levels of the College of Engineering’s newest academic building, the Garage features 25,000 square feet of prototyping and design space for students and capstone projects. With access to multiple 3D printers, laser cutters and soldering irons, it’s a point of pride for engineering students where everything’s accessible and innovation is encouraged.
“The collaborative atmosphere of the Garage sets it apart from any other location on campus,” said Patrick Stolinksi, a junior civil engineering major and president of PROTO, one of four Recognized Student Organizations (RSO) utilizing the workshop space.
“With the Garage, I don’t have to worry about how I’ll get access to equipment or transport supplies between locations,” added B Littman, a senior mechanical engineering major who oversees UNL’s Theme Park Design RSO. “Everything is in one place so I can focus on the end goal.”
One of the college’s goals when Kiewit Hall was completed in 2024 was having a hands-on workshop dedicated to student collaboration. Whether it was using traditional woodshop or metal shop tools to design and build projects or having access to facilities capable of fixing a car, the Garage was one of the most important features in the new building.
“Students can’t just walk in and start using equipment,” said Max Wheeler, Garage director and a 2013 mechanical engineering alumnus. “It’s about broadening their toolbox. We provide a progression for using equipment, like 15 minutes of miter saw training to get comfortable with the machine or a hands-on process of learning how to weld.”
