A new workshop space tucked inside Bethlehem's ArtsQuest Creative Factory held its very first class on Thursday, teaching students how to build birdhouses and cutting boards. The Air Products MakerSpace is designed to pair old-fashioned carpentry know-how with cutting-edge fabrication tools, giving Lehigh Valley residents a place to pick up skills that instructor and manager Joe Capparell says are being forgotten.
A Blend of Old and New Inside the Creative Factory
The MakerSpace sits inside the new WFMZ.com's report describes as the ArtsQuest Creative Factory Powered by PPL. Joe Capparell, an instructor and manager at the Air Products MakerSpace, said the facility is built to handle both traditional techniques and modern technology. Describing the range of equipment, Capparell said the space offers “carpentry skills, welding skills, but we also have state of the art equipment to do all the new fun things like a CNC, a laser.”
According to the station's report, the first class walked students through building birdhouses and cutting boards as an introduction to the space's tools and safety protocols. From there, the MakerSpace plans to expand its course offerings to include table making and longbow carving, giving returning students more advanced projects to tackle as their skills grow.
From Birdhouses to Built-Ins
The MakerSpace's ambitions extend well beyond small starter projects. The program also teaches people how to make built-in cabinets, bookshelves and desks, rounding out a curriculum that moves from entry-level woodworking into furniture-grade carpentry. An ArtsQuest event listing for the Intro to Woodworking course notes that the class is built to teach the safety needed to operate each piece of equipment before students move further.
Once students complete that introductory course and demonstrate the right skills and safety techniques, ArtsQuest's listing notes that students will be able to advance to other courses as well as rent the makerspace to work on their own projects. The introductory course is held at the Air Products MakerSpace location at 25 W. 3rd St. in Bethlehem, per the same listing.
Built on the Former Banana Factory Site
The Creative Factory itself was built at the site of the former Banana Factory on West Third Street, and the complex celebrated its soft opening last month. A full grand opening for both the Creative Factory and the Air Products MakerSpace is planned for the new year, though an exact date has not been announced.
ArtsQuest first announced the MakerSpace's inaugural round of workshops back in July, saying the sessions would be taught by Capparell beginning Thursday. That early announcement, posted on ArtsQuest's site, laid the groundwork for the slate of classes that kicked off this week, including sessions on CNC basics, metal sculpture, traditional joinery and tool safety.
A Nod to National STEAM Day
The timing lines up with National STEAM Day, which falls on Nov. 8 and stands for science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics. Capparell said the broader goal of the MakerSpace is to teach skills that are being forgotten, a mission that fits neatly with a day meant to celebrate hands-on learning across disciplines.
For Capparell, the appeal of the space lies in offering something for everyone who walks through the door, whether they are chasing a quick weekend project or working toward building their own furniture. As the MakerSpace rolls out more classes in the months ahead, instructors are betting that birdhouses are just the beginning.
