Idea Shop

The Grainger Maker Space and Duchossois Idea Shop serve as hubs for innovation, collaboration, and hands-on learning at Illinois Tech. Located on the ground floor of the Ed Kaplan Family Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, these spaces provide students, faculty, and collaborators with access to the tools, technologies, and environments needed to move ideas from concept to creation.

The facility includes advanced rapid prototyping labs equipped with 3D printers, CNC mills, electronics workstations, and hand fabrication tools, along with a Dell laptop lab, iPad library, and computer lab supporting mobile app development and video editing. Collaborative teaming areas and flexible open spaces further support interdisciplinary project work, experimentation, and creative problem solving.

As the home of Illinois Tech’s Interprofessional Projects Program (IPRO) and entrepreneurship initiatives, the Idea Shop plays a central role in connecting academic learning to innovation and practice. Together, the Grainger Maker Space and Duchossois Idea Shop help cultivate the technical skills, collaborative habits, and entrepreneurial mindset that prepare students to lead in dynamic professional environments.