The Atrium

A Replicable Model for Bringing the Classroom Beyond the Four Walls

A hands-on makerspace for high school students and beyond

Marcella Foundation Impact

The whole child approach

Feed

Rescue food and feed our neighbors

Read

Book access and reading mentorship

Lead

Building a makerspace

The Challenge

Students lack access to advanced tools and creative spaces until they leave for college

Low-income students often encounter advanced tools for the first time when they leave for college, putting them behind their peers from bigger cities who may have had access from a young age.

Interest in engineering & design peaks in middle school—and drops sharply without hands-on opportunities to sustain it.

0% of employers report difficulty finding workers with hands-on technical and fabrication skills

2–3× more likely to pursue STEM majors when exposed to hands-on making before 10th grade

The Solution

The Atrium

A free offsite makerspace where high school students learn by doing—building, experimenting, and discovering how things work.

Our makerspace acts as a bridge between K-12 education, community college, and local industry.

The Atrium will serve as a community hub where youth develop technological skills, collaborate on local problems, volunteer in our food and reading programs, and explore entrepreneurship.

"

Everyone is a maker. It's a place where you can build anything.

"

Free. Always. A creative playground with no cost barrier.

Accessible. Center of town, bike path, transit routes.

Inclusive. Coding, crafting, cooking, creating — everyone belongs.

Integrated. Food, literacy, and hands-on skills in one space.

01

Phase 1

Mobile Makerspace

Now in Progress

Equipment Demonstrations

Deploying maker tools directly to the school site—3D printers, laser cutters, and more—so students can experience hands-on creation without leaving campus.

Teacher Integrations

Partnering with educators to weave making into existing curriculum, turning abstract concepts into tangible projects.

Student Leadership

Building peer mentorship capacity at both high school and community college levels—students teaching students.

The Atrium Mobile Makerspace trailer with students

02

Phase 2

The Atrium Opens

Fall 2026

Field Trips

Classrooms visit for immersive maker experiences—broad exposure that sparks curiosity.

Certifications

Students earn credentials on tools and equipment, building real skills they can take anywhere.

After School

Workshops and open lab hours for student tinkering—a place to explore without the bell.

Open Tinkering

Free access for independent projects—because the best ideas come from unstructured time.

03

Phase 3

CTE Entrepreneurship Pathways

The Vision

01

Idea Incubation

A space where creative sparks become real projects—students explore, prototype, and iterate.

02

Business Planning

From concept to business model—students learn to plan, develop, and structure their ideas.

03

Marketing & Finance

Real-world skills in branding, promotion, and financial management to bring ideas to market.

04

Product Showcases

Students present their creations to the community—celebrating what they've built.

For CTE Leaders

This is a replicable model.

For CTE Leaders

This is a replicable model.

Bringing your classroom outside the four walls

Find aligned partners

Look for community partners that share your values and vision for students.

Seek unexpected places

Nonprofits, local businesses, individual makers—partnerships are everywhere.

Build relationships first

Start by asking for advice. Trust comes before transactions.

Thank you!

Stay in touch →

Melissa Uppendahl

melissa@marcellafoundation.org

marcellafoundation.org

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