Lab El Paso is the first in the western Texas region of the United States. It is an entirely grassroots organization and has grown organically from support from the community.

Mission ✓ Provide open-door, open-access grassroots community space, hardware, software, and resource support for education, research, and development of digital fabrication methods such as 3D printing, laser cutting, computer-controlled machining, 3D scanning, and more

✓ Establish partnerships with state and local educators, colleges, universities, museums, science centers to promote applied science, math, engineering, and technology (STEM) education and vocational training for all ages and levels of experience

✓ Serve the technical needs of local industries and businesses through facilitation of rapid prototyping, product modeling, and small-scale production

✓ Foster a collaborative innovation atmosphere to aid in community-building through fun, engaging project-based workshops, summer camps, and programming for individuals of all ages.

History Fab Lab has been recognized as a leader in youth education for creative technologies by El Paso Community Foundation, City of El Paso Museums and Cultural Affairs Department, United Way of El Paso, American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC), Microsoft, Texas Commission on the Arts, Carnegie Mellon University Information Systems Department, and Fab Foundation (MIT), and Congresswoman Veronica Escobar.

From 2017 to 2018, Fab Lab was contracted for the installation of 10 makerspaces in 10 EPISD High Schools. In April 2018, Fab Lab sponsored the inaugural Makerspace Competition at STEAMX, the largest high school STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) Competition in El Paso.

In July 2018, Fab Lab hosted Maker Camp sponsored by Marathon Oil and powered by Make: Magazine, Maker Media, and Google. In 2019, Fab Lab partnered with Microsoft to launch the first ever certified coding short course in El Paso and launched the first Mobile Makerspace in our region with the help of El Paso Community Foundation, Hunt Family Foundation, and El Paso Electric. Fab Lab has been recognized by Congresswoman Veronica Escobar for outstanding creative technology service for the community.

Since the onset of the pandemic in 2020, Fab Lab has been prototyping and 3D manufacturing stopgap PPE such as N95 masks and face shields for the community. We have also hosted online workshops and programs to continue our support creativity and innovation. In February 2021, we will launch our Virtual Field Trips in topics 3D Printing, Robotics, and VR. The film “Disrupted Borders” which documents a grassroots prosthesis project incubated at Fab Lab El Paso premiered at Cleveland International Film Festival followed by Philadelphia Latino Film Festival in 2021.