County Resident Hopes to Open Silver Spring’s First Makerspace

Steve Morris has been a “maker” and a “thinker” all his life. He now wants to open Silver Spring’s first makerspace.

Photo | Steve Morris

After six months of research, visiting other makerspaces, and putting together a business plan, Morris is scheduled to host the Catylator Makerspace Silver Spring Meetup at the Pyramid Atlantic Arts Center in Silver Spring on Dec. 16 at 7 p.m.

“I want to talk about what my vision of the space is. Whether or not this is something that would appeal to people,” Morris said.

At the meeting, Morris hopes to share his vision of a place that will include different spaces for people to work on textiles, wood, 3D printing and laser cutting, metal, electronics and Robotics, among others. He also wants to provide a place where people can make hobbies into something they can get profit.

The Silver Spring resident was working with his stepson on a project out of their garage when they needed a welder and angle grinder. Morris began to look for a place where his stepson could work with such tools.

“I found a makerspace in Reston … and I was like ‘Nothing in Silver Spring. … Why don’t we have something like that here,’” Morris said.

That is when the mechanical engineer with a master degree in aerodynamics thought about Catylator Makerspace- a place where the community can learn about technology through tools available in the space.

“I would love to be able to [also] offer job training programs,” Morris said.

For now, he is focusing on getting the word out, talk to other Silver Spring residents, business people, and brainstorm ideas to get pass the two obstacles, which according to Morris are funding and a permanent location to the makerspace.

He hopes to have the space open and running before next summer.

“By May of next year would be great,” he said.

Click here for more information about the Catylator Makerspace.

About Aline Barros

Aline Barros is a multimedia reporter and community engagement specialist with Montgomery Community Media. She can be reached at Abarros@mymcmedia.org and on Twitter at @AlineBarros2.

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