User:Maraviva/sandbox

= NextFab = NextFab Studio, LLC (DBA NextFab) is a network of membership-based makerspaces with locations in Philadelphia and Wilmington. Founded in 2009 by Dr. Evan Malone, the for-profit company opened its first location in West Philadelphia’s University City Science Center.

NextFab offers users education on and access to manufacturing and prototyping equipment, and is associated with the maker culture and DIY culture.

After TechShop declared bankruptcy and closed all ten domestic locations in 2017, NextFab became the largest network of for-profit makerspaces with three locations in the United States.

History
NextFab was founded as a for-profit limited liability company in 2009 by Dr. Evan D. Malone, the son of American businessman and philanthropist John C. Malone. Evan Malone received his undergraduate degree in physics from the University of Pennsylvania at the age of 29, and his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Cornell University. While at Cornell, he co-founded Fab@Home, the first multi-material 3D printer that's credited with sparking the consumer 3D Printing revolution. During his time at Cornell, Malone took the Fab@Home 3D printer to Johannesburg, South Africa as part of MIT’s Fab Lab, an outreach effort that introduced off-the-shelf digital fabrication tools and design software to communities around the world. "'It was inspirational to see how people with absolutely no technical background were able to invent and produce things that could lift them from poverty. Plus, it got tons of publicity. I felt like I could have an impact.' - Dr. Evan Malone"NextFab's first location, a 4,400-square-foot space located at 3711 Market Street, opened to the public as a part of the University City Science Center's business incubator in 2010. The project was funded by Malone's family trust and cost $400,000.

After four years, NextFab relocated to a 21,000-square-foot facility on Washington Avenue in South Philadelphia in 2013. The expansion project was supported by a $5 million investment from Malone's family trust.

In December 2014, NextFab opened a second location at 1227 N. 4th Street in the city's South Kensington neighborhood. Co-located with Impact Hub, part of an international coworking network, NextFab's 4,000-square-foot workshop space had been previously occupied by 3rd Ward, a Brooklyn-based arts collective. Impact Hub remained in the building with NextFab until 2015 when the company's executive director announced that the branch would close in December. In February of 2018 the building was sold to Daniel Wackerman, CEO of John A. Steer Company and NextFab transferred its lease to continue renting the space on the first floor.

NextFab's newest location opened in June of 2017 in the creative district of Wilmington, Delaware. Aided by the Wilmington Renaissance Corporation (WRC) and a $350,000 grant from the Delaware Economic Development Office (DEDO), the expansion was officially announced in late 2015 and was estimated to take a year and a half to complete. The project was delayed slightly after the first prospective building lease fell through. On June 14th, 2017 NextFab hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate its opening at 503 N. Tatnall Street. "In November 2015, the Council on Development Finance, DEDO’s advisory board, approved a Delaware Strategic Fund grant to assist NextFab with its plans to expand into the city of Wilmington. NexFab is partnering with the Wilmington Renaissance Corporation (WRC) to create a new NextFab operation in Wilmington’s Creative District. Wilmington’s Creative District is part of a national wave of creative placemaking initiatives that seek to transform urban areas."In July 2018, NextFab announced its plans to close the location at 1227 N. 4th Street and relocate half a mile north to a large warehouse at 1800 N. American Street. Within the 60,000-square-foot building, NextFab planned to occupy around 21,000-square-feet and share the rest with multiple sub-tenants including a local reuse non-profit, The Resource Exchange. The expanded location was scheduled to open by the end of 2019.