The University of St. Thomas introduced a new student-oriented lab Sept. 20 in the Facilities and Design Center on South Campus.

The new lab is a study hub for all students, where they have opportunities to work in solitude or in group space. The lab has three main rooms, a 3D printing center, a laser engraver and a small kitchenette with a fridge, sink and vending machines.

“It’s nice having a place on South Campus that’s study oriented, I feel like as engineers we don’t have that a ton,” senior student worker Rachel Lee said. “I bring my lunch in here every day and it’s kept frozen so then I can just come and eat. It’s like home base.”

The facility does not have a name yet. The school is letting students name this space, said one of the lead production designers, Laura Dunham, an engineering and business professor at St. Thomas.

“We’re going to put it to a vote, and if there’s a lot of favorites we’ll figure out how to get that name out to more people to vote on,” Dunham said.

The facility replaces what used to be an on-campus recycling center, which has now been relocated to the opposite side of the building.

The new lab has multiple tables, chairs, couches and stools for students to work on. Additionally, there are SMART Boards for students to hook up their devices to, white boards to write on  as well as desk space in every corner of the building.

The engineering department will supply 25 hours of pay for student workers per week to run the 3D printers, on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday basis to help students understand how the machines work. The facility’s daily hours will be 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., with student workers on shift from 10 a.m. – 12 a.m. and 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.

“We want this to be a space that students really own, and not be a space where we really dictate what happens,” said Dunham. “It has so much to offer, and it’s a really exciting opportunity for every student, not just engineers and entrepreneurs.”

Jacob Schneider can be reached at schn6923@stthomas.edu