The wait is over: NextFab pinned down that pesky Wilmington location

NextFab Wilmington was just a thought back in March 2015.
2016 got off to a vague start with just a square-foot estimate and a targeted fall launch. Then in June, the target was nudged back to the end of the year.
However, looks like this time it’s for real: NextFab has secured a 10,000 square-foot location for its long-awaited Wilmington expansion — located in the city’s Creative District — making it the third iteration of the makerspace.
For Evan Malone, founder and president of NextFab, the waiting time paid off:
“We are very excited to announce that we have found our Wilmington location, and forged great new partnerships along the way,” Malone said in a press release, referring to things like the deal struck with Wilmington University’s College of Technology.
Students at the higher-ed institution will get access to NextFab equipment as part of the newly-minted Maker Certificate program.
So, what does all this mean for Philly NextFab members? According to Malone, they should look out for networking opportunities across state lines.
“We will be actively encouraging virtual and in-person connection between the Wilmington and Philadelphia communities with events, hackathons, and referrals,” Malone told Technical.ly in an email.
Members will have access to all three locations, no matter where they’re based. And, according to Malone, the new Wilmington space will likely draw some Philly makers, on account of its mysterious secret weapon:
“Just as Washington Ave has the big machine tools, and North 4th location has a jewelry studio,” he wrote. “Wilmington will have a unique technical offering not present at the other two.”
A call for ideas wrapped up Malone’s email:
“We have some ideas, but we’d love to hear from your readers about what they really want or need: An AR/VR lab? A Shaper Origin, or a Wazer? Let us know!”
Well, let them know.
Sister site Technical.ly Delaware has the full scoop.