The P.D. Merrill Makerspace
The P.D. Merrill Makerspace is a fully equipped laboratory for creating and building, turning ideas into reality, and developing solutions to real-world problems. Whether you come to the Makerspace as part of a class, as a student researcher or innovator, or just for fun, the Makerspace has something to offer every student — regardless of program or major.
The Makerspace comprises two labs, one for fabrication and one for digital design.
Fabrication Lab
The P.D. Merrill Makerspace’s Fabrication Lab is a place where anyone can make (almost) anything. All planning, design, production, and fabrication processes are done in one place.
The laser cutter is a student favorite and can be used to engrave on and cut a variety of materials, including leather, acrylic, and glass. In addition to fiber art supplies, woodworking tools, a vinyl cutter, and a sewing machine, the lab also boasts 3D printers and an electronics station.
Whether you need to create a physical device for a research project, make your homework assignment stand out, or you simply want to come in to learn new skills and make something cool — the tools and materials in the Fabrication Lab are available to all students. Our professional staff provides training on all the equipment, no experience is necessary to get started.
Design Lab
The Design Lab is a technology hub — a place where students can create a digital simulation or demo of a product idea. In our Design Lab, you’ll have access to powerful Alienware computers to work on application and software development so that you can create digital prototypes of the products you envision. You can use the Design Lab to develop apps, virtual games, GIS applications, 3D models, and more.
Whether you visit the Design Lab as part of class in business, marine science, aquaculture, neuroscience, or another discipline, or you come in independently with an idea all your own, your time here will help transform a concept into a reality while providing you with the opportunity to develop valuable technical skills that will boost your resume and your career prospects. Our professional staff provides training on all the software, no experience is necessary to get started.
Location and Hours of Operation
You can join us in the Makerspace any time during open hours, 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Monday–Friday. Incidental changes to our hours are posted on our Instagram account.
P.D. Merrill Makerspace
Rooms 44, 51, and 52
Decary Hall
Biddeford Campus
(207) 602-2848
The Sustainable Innovation Center
The Sustainable Innovation Center (SIC) is a state-of-the-art makerspace and lab serving undergraduate, graduate, and professional students, as well as teaching and research faculty from across the university.
The SIC serves as a hub for inquiry, experimentation, and collaboration, driving innovative solutions to complex environmental, health, and societal challenges. Through skill-based workshops and interdisciplinary teamwork, the center fosters creativity and problem-solving across disciplines.
This space is equipped with computing, data visualization tools, GIS mapping, 3D printing, and a range of other specialized technologies and software to support research and applied projects from idea to implementation.
Location and Hours of Operation
You are welcome to drop in to the Sustainable Innovation Center in the lower level of the Girard Marine Science Center any time during open hours, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., Monday–Friday. Usage at other times can be arranged upon request. Contact Coordinator Emily Wood with questions or for more information.
Explore Student Projects Supported by Center Spaces
What can students do in the Makerspace?
Get Inspired
Come to a workshop or event to have fun and learn something new.
Get Creative
Develop your idea for solutions to real-world problems.
Get Involved
Join a team and be part of innovation challenges at UNE and beyond.
Get Experience
Conduct research, invent something new, take your skills further.
Get Hired
Build skills that employers value and connect to mentors and careers.
About P.D. Merrill and the Charitable Trust
The P.D. Merrill Charitable Trust has been a strong supporter of innovation and entrepreneurship initiatives at the University of New England and has given several annual gifts, starting in 2013, to support the Student Innovation Challenge, the precursor of today’s Maine Ideas Challenge, an idea-stage competition that encourages innovative and sustainable solutions to social, environmental, and health issues facing our society.
P.D. Merrill was chair of Merrill Industries and a prominent business leader in the Portland community. He and his father established Merrill’s Marine Terminal in Portland, through which Maine gets its road salt and other industrial commodities, including newsprint for the Boston Globe, New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal.
He was instrumental in the renovation of what is now Merrill Auditorium, named in honor of his parents. He chaired the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and Business Alliance from 1998 to 1999, was a founder of the Maine Economic Research Institute and was active in both the International Forest Products Transportation Association and the Industrial Advisory Board of the Loeb Sullivan School of International Business and Logistics at the Maine Maritime Academy. He was also involved in a wide variety of other philanthropic endeavors throughout the state.
Merrill joined UNE’s Board of Trustees in 1984, serving as chair of the Board of Trustees from 1995 to 2000 when Westbrook College joined UNE.
The P.D. Merrill Charitable Trust has been a strong supporter of innovation and entrepreneurship initiatives at the University of New England and has given several annual gifts, starting in 2013, to support the Student Innovation Challenge, the precursor of today’s Maine Ideas Challenge, an idea-stage competition that encourages innovative and sustainable solutions to social, environmental, and health issues facing our society.
The Merrill Trust made a significant gift in 2017 to expand the Makerspace with rooms and equipment to support digital application innovation and development. The most recent gift in 2019 provided further support for the Student Innovation Challenge, funds to add professional staff, and funds to bring visiting innovators from other industry and academic institutions to UNE to share their expertise with students.
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