The University of Tulsa's new Fab Lab at 5th and Lewis, Tulsa's largest hub for everything from 3D printing to woodworking.
It is expected that the new owner will contribute to the expansion of the center.
A Fab Lab or Innovation Lab is open to anyone in the community who wants to develop their skills and create new things.
And this collaboration enables students and teachers to reap even more benefits.
The Tulsa Fab Lab is a hive of activity, and it's not just the noise of all the equipment that brings ideas to life.
“Fab Lab Tulsa is a non-profit organization; we focus on digital fabrication tools,” said Nathan Pritchett, director of Fab Lab Tulsa.
Pritchett includes equipment such as 2D and 3D printing, laser printers, commercial grade sewing machines and much more.
He said it made sense for the University of Tulsa to buy the center.
"It's a big deal, we're really excited," he said. "We have decades of partnership with the University of Tulsa, not only with students, but also with civic engagement here in the neighborhood and in north Tulsa."
"It's a lot of fun," Mike McClain said. "It's a great place and they have great facilities."
Mike McLain is a member of the Fab Lab.
He still uses the center's tools to make projects like guitar amps.
"You pay a few dollars a month and come here and play," he said.
Many university staff, alumni and students are already members of the Fab Lab, and engineering, art or entrepreneurship students can find great success there, says the university's Mona Chamberlain.
"Maybe they have the opportunity to come here and take advantage of the resources here."
So ideas can continue to flourish in this center.
Fab Lab Tulsa is one of 1,800 such MIT-approved centers worldwide.
Staff will not be affected by the new franchise, officials said, but they hope to expand the center in the future.
