The School of Architecture and Design’s labs and workshops are student-centered collaborative spaces for students to develop, test, and communicate design ideas. At Wentworth, labs are an extension of the design studio and support a core principle within the school that physical ideation is integral throughout the design process. We provide students with hands-on experience in a wide range of technologies including woodworking, precision metalworking, digital fabrication, and industrial robotics. Students leverage these technologies to produce outcomes ranging from representational models to full-scale working prototypes. This work is facilitated by a team of dedicated technical staff who foster a safe and inclusive environment, provide technical instruction, and offer guidance and support throughout the process.

Students are introduced to the labs in foundation-level courses that teach essential technical skills and their application within the design process. Students then explore increasingly advanced techniques and technologies for design-communication, prototype fabrication, and manufacturing. In advanced undergraduate and graduate courses, students apply what they have learned towards developing novel design-based solutions to complex real-world challenges and applied research.

The School’s hands-on curriculum, which is supported by the labs and workshops, positions students to become technological leaders in 21st century design practice. Graduates of the School are empowered with confidence and technical skills to propose big ideas supported by practical solutions, giving them a greater voice within contemporary practice. This practical skillset enables graduates to take an active role in driving the future of the design industry.

Annex-North Labs and workshops