Tool-Up: Top Makerspaces in Toronto

Creating new things is fundamental to being human. It’s how we drive advancement in our society forward faster than any other species. When you stop to think about it, though, we’re not the strongest species on the planet.

We’re certainly not the fastest, nor do we have the greatest endurance. In fact, our physical characteristics are impressively average. However, we are good at one thing – making new tools and technologies. And, if you are going to create, you’ll need the right space to do it: a makerspace.

The Maker Movement

There is a movement afoot: the Maker Movement! The Maker Movement is an explosive resurgence of following our innate drive to make things ourselves – to create and reinvent to our heart’s content. Its rising popularity is likely due to the fact that humans are inherently hardwired to make new things, and it’s a proven fact that we are the best at doing this.

At MAKO, many of our clients are makers. They don’t simply come up with an idea. This is just one step in the arduous and lengthy journey taken when creating something new, and they enjoy it all the way through.

They undertake each challenge that presents itself – at least a few typically will – and many construct their own prototypes to the best of their abilities. Often, our clients will even test their novel creations by showing them to their friends and colleagues or gathering feedback through online platforms.

This process gives them the confidence and desire to move on to the next steps of the product development journey – creating a viable business with their product. This is where MAKO Design + Invent comes in!

MAKO Supports Makers

Leveraging our team of professional designers, researchers, engineers, and project managers, our clients can make their dreams a reality. This is what we do every day at MAKO Design + Invent. We bring ideas to life, and we couldn’t be more honored to be entrusted with this vital responsibility.

Regardless of whether you are a Maker, Tinkerer, Hacker or just want to see what could come of your invention idea, you will need access to the right tools before you get to the stage where you are ready to hire a team of professionals.

You will need to Tool-Up by accessing the requisite raw materials, electronic parts, textiles, 3D printers, and laser cutters, just to name a few. As such, it is to your benefit to tap into the widespread community of like-minded Makers who will teach you how to use these tools, offer guidance, and make this process all the more fun.

Thankfully, in response to the resurgent Maker Movement, affordable makerspaces are springing up everywhere. These spaces have all of the previously mentioned tools and resources you’ll need and more!

Below we’ve compiled a list of a few of the top makerspaces in Toronto, in and around our Canadian offices. If you live close by, these spaces are here for you to gain experience and confidence in your craft.

When the time comes to bring in the big guns and turn your invention idea into a viable product business, you know where to find us.

The Top Makerspaces in Toronto

1. Toronto Tool Library

With three locations in Toronto, the Toronto Tool Library (TTL) is a renowned makerspace and social innovation project. Their location on Toronto’s east side is an innovation and technology hub that houses everything you need to realize your projects. TTL boasts a fleet of 3D printers, an open-source laser cutter, and a full wood shop. It also offers free skills training with its in-house experts.

A makerspace and a sharing economy project rolled into one, TTL promotes the virtues of access over ownership. Borrowing membership gives you access to their entire library of tools for loan from 3-7 days. You can borrow anything from a pipe cutter to a lawnmower.

TTL truly brings resources to the community, and they have the numbers to prove it. With over 5,200 members, they have loaned over 70,000 tools to their communities. Also, the TTL is a partner of the Toronto Public Library, so Torontonians can borrow books and tools under the same roof.

2. MakeWorks

Serving as a makerspace, coworking office and startup incubator, MakeWorks’ facility is a sprawling 10,000-square-foot multi-use facility at College and Dufferin that was once a shoe factory. They call themselves a “shared R&D lab” for new startups and businesses of all kinds.

Their tech-focused MakeLab features 3D printers, a laser cutter and prototyping equipment. One of MAKO’s partners, Ayah Norris of Indiegogo, says, “MakeWorks really is the workspace of the future. There’s no place like it in Toronto.”

3. HackLab.TO 

With a decided software and electronics slant, HackLab.TO is a makerspace in Toronto for those whose projects might include circuit design or required software programming. They even have a biological department should your project call for blending hardware with the biological.

HackLab.TO affords an impressive catalog of shared equipment, electronics tools, amateur radio tools, maker tools, and multimedia equipment. Their hacker motto is used in the MIT sense, “We make things, repurpose things, program things, invent things, and make lights blink!”

4. Site 3 coLaboratory

Site 3 is a 2,000-square-foot, member-run makerspace located in Toronto’s thriving and fabulous west end. It is dedicated to making, teaching, learning, and thinking about the intersection between art and technology.

Their vision is to have a space that promotes a four-step cycle of creating, displaying, teaching, and inspiring with everything you need for electronics, woodworking, and metalwork projects.

5. STEAMLabs

This non-profit community makerspace provides access to high-tech tools and learning opportunities for creating. STEAMLabs anchors the ground floor of the new 64,000 square-foot headquarters of the Centre for Social Innovation.

It’s known as a place where “Science, Technology Engineering, Art and Math can all be used to invent the future.” STEAMLabs provides access to the tools of digital fabrication, coding, hands-on making and electronics.

6. Junction Workshop

Wood and nothing but wood – that’s the primary theme of the Junction Workshop. It is a truly gorgeous space located on Toronto’s west end that provides every woodworking tool you could ever need. An added benefit? They offer classes on everything wood-related, from tool safety to furniture making.

7. & 8. Re: Style Studio & The Workroom

Textiles as technology! Many don’t think of textiles as technology, but what else is a parachute or a kite sail? In any case, both Re: Style Studio and The Workroom are unique makerspaces that provide access to sewing machines, textile classes, and textile education. They have everything you need for the textile components of your prototype.

If you have a great new invention idea and you’d like to learn more about this process, get in touch with MAKO today and visit our website to find out more. Or feel free to give us a call at 1-888-806-MAKO, and we can set you up on a call with our product strategists!

About: MAKO Design + Invent is the original firm providing world-class consumer product development services tailored to startups, small manufacturers, and inventors. Simply put, we are the leading one-stop-shop for developing your physical product from idea to store shelves, all in a high-quality, cost-effective, and timely manner. We operate as one powerhouse 30-person product design team spread across 4 offices to serve you (Austin, Miami, San Francisco, & Toronto). We have full-stack in-house industrial design, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, patent referral, prototyping, and manufacturing services. To assist our startup and inventor clients, in addition to above, we help with business strategy, product strategy, marketing, and sales/distribution for all consumer product categories. Also, our founder Kevin Mako hosts The Product Startup Podcast, the industry's leading hardware podcast. Check it out for tips, interviews, and best practices for hardware startups, inventors, and product developers. Click HERE to learn more about MAKO Design + Invent!