On Monday, October 15, Brookfield Central celebrated the grand opening of its Fabrication "Fab" Lab to a packed audience of Elmbrook students, staff, community members, corporate sponsors, and local representatives. A Fab Lab is a prototyping environment that allows for the design and creation of ideas using various tools and equipment. With close proximity to several hands-on learning environments such as engineering, woodworking, programming, media production, and autos, students are able to create solutions to problems or challenges using state-of-the-art equipment like 3D printers, video production studio, or CNC routers.

Several companies and individuals supported the development of the Fabrication Lab with in-kind donations and knowledge sharing expertise including Trace-a-Matic, Milwaukee Tool, Eppstein Uhen Architects, CG Schmidt Construction, majic Productions, Midwest Stairs and Iron, and Mr. Bob Ziegler. "Creation and innovation is at the heart of the Brookfield Central Fab Lab," said Technology Educator Tom Juran. "Thank you to all those that have contributed to this journey. This lab will enable advanced, hands-on learning for generations to come."

In addition to a brief ceremony recognizing the lab's sponsors, Principal Brett Gruetzmacher highlighted the impact the Lab will have on all students across the District to create and innovate. Following the presentation, students demonstrated the robust technologies available to them and spoke of the design-build process used on several recent projects. Last May, Brookfield Central was named one of twenty-two schools across the state to receive a Wisconsin Economic Development Council grant to support part of the construction of the lab, in addition to funds prioritized from the District's general operating budget.

The lab will also assist Elmbrook's LAUNCH program, a profession-based learning experience, which strives on consulting, making, and creating solutions for our regions top businesses. "Having these incredible resources available to our students will help them build their technical abilities and give them competitive advantages following graduation," said Principal Brett Gruetzmacher. "We are excited to see all the opportunities this lab brings to Elmbrook."

View photos from the grand opening below.