Located in Wilkinsburg, Protohaven is a 12,500 sq ft community makerspace and design/fabrication school. Members have access to tools and equipment in areas such as:
- Woodshop
- Machining
- Blacksmithing
- Metalworking
- Welding
- 3D Printing
- Laser Cutting
- Textiles & CNC Embroidery
- Powder Coating
- Vinyl Cutting
- Electronics
- Jewelry
Protohaven offers both single-session classes and intensives (4-week sessions) to provide people with the skills and training to not only use the equipment and tools, but to do so safely. Custom classes can be developed as well.
Four types of memberships are available including general (7 day a week access), weekend (Saturday and Sunday access), non-profit, and corporate. Income-based rates are available to offset the costs of membership and classes as needed. Protohaven firmly believes in making sure that learning and equipment usage should be accessible to all.
Protohaven is an approved Act 48 provider.
Programs
Shop Techs
Protohaven’s Shop Tech program is a one-year co-development program where participants build their design, fabrication, interpersonal, and shop management skills while helping shape and support our community. It is ideal for individuals who are enthusiastic about design, fabrication, and helping to lead a clean, welcoming, and functional community shop.
As a team, Shop Techs represent our maintenance and member support corps at Protohaven—this support comes in the form of greeting and helping members, maintaining and repairing equipment, keeping the shop clean and tidy, and being representative of our Community Guidelines and Shop Rules.
Teaching Fellowship
Protohaven’s Teaching Fellowship is a six-month program that is designed for makers looking to enhance their pedagogical skills. The Fellowship program happens twice a year and offers two seats each session. The Teaching Fellowship team plays a key role in creating a rich, supportive learning environment that brings value to students of all skill levels, while enhancing their ability and confidence as an instructor.
Teaching Fellows work directly with our Education Manager to focus on becoming a better instructor. Fellows will be coached in developing a syllabus, ensuring equity within the classroom, maintaining a safe learning environment, and the many other aspects of being a good teacher.
As a team, Teaching Fellows will also engage collaboratively with our current instructors as they develop core Protohaven classes—classes that dive into everything from immersive projects that teach students how to operate equipment with confidence to advanced maintenance and troubleshooting intensives that earn members clearance to join our maintenance crew.