The REEF

The Reef named as one of DTLA's Tech Boom Instigators in LA Times Piece

Loving this nod to Maker City home base, The Reef, as a major player in the DTLA tech start-up scene. Check out the choice except and link to full Los Angeles Times article below:

Another building transformed by the tech economy is the LA Mart, a longtime center for trade that in recent years added a creative space for tech and design companies. The building was rebranded the Reef, which Senior Vice President Ava Bromberg said is meant to conjure a "complete creative habitat" that spurs innovation.

General Assembly — an education institution that offers courses in tech, design and business — opened a downtown L.A. campus at the Reef in December. A venture capital firm recently leased space in the building, and over the next few months, TechShop — a chain of member-based workshops that provides access to tools, training and space — plans to build out a 20,000-square-foot facility there.

Read the full article here.

Downtown L.A. development spreading south with planned SoLA Village

la-la-fi-sola-village02-jpg-20140604 The LA Times just ran a story about an exciting 7.5 acre development project in the works for our South Los Angeles neighborhood. The project is being developed by the people behind Maker City LA, The Reef, and sister property Atwater Crossing, and will be designed by award-winning architecture firm, Gensler .

Should it go forward, the development will be called SoLa Village and will include a mix of commercial and residential space, incorporating "skyscrapers and low- and mid-rise residential buildings along with outdoor plazas and terraces intended to create a pedestrian-oriented community".

Read the entire story here:

http://www.latimes.com/business/realestate/la-fi-property-report-20140605-story.html

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Digital Journal Covers TechShop LA Town Hall

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We are always thrilled to get great coverage of our events, like this first hand account of last week's TechShop LA town hall meeting by Digital Journal writer and hacker space advocate Matt Terndrup: Fabrication Studio TechShop is coming to Los Angeles, California http://youtu.be/T6-pktRt4bI

Los Angeles - Imagine a place where you can build whatever you want. There are tools you can use, people to talk to, and skills to learn.

Creative environments are popping up all across the world where like-minded people come together to create Do-It-Yourself projects, starts businesses, and develop rapid prototypes. They are named hackerspaces, makerspaces, fabrication studios, and fab labs; each of which specializes in their own niche field of work.

Near the center of this DIY maker movement, where just about anyone can build something for cheap, is a chain of member-based workshops called TechShop. This company was founded by previous Mythbusters advisor Jim Newton and part-time computer science professor Ridge McGhee. Jim’s vision was to establish a place where people can learn new skills while having access to industrial tools. In October 2006, they set up their 1st shop in Menlo Park, California. Over the next few years, TechShop grew into a vibrant, creative community of artists, makers, engineers, startup enthusiasts, and everyone in-between.

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/technology/fabrication-studio-techshop-is-coming-to-los-angeles-california/article/384598#ixzz32xqWEnqy

 

 

 

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TechShop Los Angeles Town Hall: Tech & Innovation in LA Twitter Recap

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techshop floorMaker Manifesto Earlier this week, TechShop CEO Mark Hatch  returned to Maker City LA at The REEF to lead a discussion about the state of LA's tech and innovation landscape with special guests Ava Bromberg (The REEF SVP),  Michelle Garakian (Office of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti) and Brent Bushnell (CEO of Two Bit Circus). Local tech innovators, maker community members, entrepreneurs and potential investors came out to join the conversation and to support TechShop's efforts to open a 9th outpost  at The REEF, in downtown LA.

Check out these choice tweets from the event:

In March, TechShop announced plans to open in downtown Los Angeles at The REEF. For more information on investing and/or joining the campaign to bring TechShop to Los Angeles, go tohttp://invest.techshop.ws/los-angeles.

 Big thanks to new Maker City LA community member Consensus Inc. for live tweeting this event!

 

Mayor Eric Garcetti Visits Maker City LA at The REEF

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Last night The Office of Mayor Eric Garcetti hosted a reception for the African & African American Commissioners of Los Angeles at Maker City LA at The REEF.  Among other things, Mayor Garcetti touched on the potential for leadership in entrepreneurship and innovation to boost job growth and commerce in LA.

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Our musically inclined Mayor then charmed guests with a mini jam session before taking a tour of Maker City LA and heading out for the evening.

Click the link below to watch a short video Mayor Garcetti on the keyboard!

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It was an honor to host this event at The REEF. Many thanks to The Office of Mayor Eric Garcetti.

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COSTUME CAFE HEARTS MAKER CITY LA

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costume cafe LA-based costume designer and host of the darling Costume Cafe Podcast, Colleen Monroe recently interviewed our very own Ava Bromberg about the vision behind The REEF, Maker City LA, and The Atelier - our one-of-a kind creative work-space for fashion/costume/accessory designers and textile artists!  It should be noted that this interview took place in the podcast studio, conveniently located  in our very own Media Lab! Listen to the full interview here or check out the highlights below:

Who:

Ava Bromberg

Career:

Urban Planner and Visionary who creates creative spaces for designers and makers to collaborate and learn from one another to forge new breakthroughs in design

Recent Project:

The Reef: A Creative Habitat, Los Angeles, California

Podcast Quote:

"Costume and Fashion Designers have really been isolated in their own silo, and I think ideally, they should be in a community with other creators, as well as, learning other skills that help them as 21st century creatives."

- Ava Bromberg

Common Thread Love

Alternative Apparel's uber cool culture and lifestyle blog, Common Thread gave Maker City LA some love the other day. Check out this article about LA's most creative coworking destinations:

Coworking Gets Creative in DTLA

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When it comes to the creative class—artists, designers, writers, bloggers, entrepreneurs, inventors, and the like—every lifestyle choice is a reflection of who we are. From the clothes we wear to the coffee we drink, we reveal our individual interests, aesthetics, even our values. So it makes sense that considering how we work also comes into play in our professional lives.

Whether freelancer or full-timer, CEO or start-up, we’re all exploring new ways to work, collaborate and feel good about what we do. For creatives looking to network, stay inspired, and perhaps just a reason to get out of their pajamas and be more productive, coworking provides that community, collaborative energy and a sometimes much-needed push to pursue your passion.

In Downtown LA, cowork spaces have been around for several years as a place for mobile workers to plug in. But only in the last couple years have a few new hot spots sprung up that seem to be the talk of the town everywhere we go. Here we take a look at three that just might have something for every creative type. Plus, they each offer free day passes or tours to test the coworking waters and see where you feel most at home...

read entire article here.

 

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TechShop Town Hall Twitter Recap

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IMG_0367IMG_0374 Last week we broke awesome news that TechShop has plans not only to come to LA, but to make The REEF (where Maker City LA is based) their latest home!  Friday evening, the San Francisco-based company's CEO Mark Hatch and Founder Jim Newton lead an invigorating information session at Maker City LA about the significance and influence of the Maker Movement.  They also shared details about the facility as well as the goals for funding and membership commitment to be achieved over the next four months in order to make TechShop Los Angeles a reality.

Here's a sampling of choice tweets from the evening:

Needless to say, we are thrilled about the impending presence of TechShop LA, as it will lead to unprecedented opportunities for collaboration and plenty of DIY goodness for the Maker City LA community.

For more information on investing and/or joining the campaign to bring TechShop to Los Angeles, go tohttp://invest.techshop.ws/los-angeles.

TechShop Announces Plans to Open in Downtown Los Angeles

techshop-logo-3d Amazing News today about TechShop's plans to open in DTLA (which would mean an amazing partnership with Maker City LA)!!  Talk about a Maker dream come true!  Full press release below:

The REEF partnership is first in “Bring TechShop to Your City” campaign

SAN JOSE, Calif. , March 19, 2014 -- TechShop, a membership-based, do-it-yourself (DIY) workshop and fabrication studio with locations across the United States, today announced it has signed a Letter of Intent with ownership of The REEF to pursue its first facility in Los Angeles, CA. TechShop would target to open later this year at The REEF, the new name for the LA Mart building, a design and innovation hub in downtown that also houses Maker City LA.

“When we launched ‘Bring TechShop to Your City’ last year, Los Angeles was one of our dream cities,” said Mark Hatch, CEO of TechShop. “It’s remarkable that in less than six months, we have not only generated enough interest in the LA community but also secured a partner like The REEF that puts Los Angeles firmly on our map of expansion efforts in 2014. We are thrilled to bring TechShop to Los Angeles, one of the creative capitals of the world.”

The two organizations will host an information session at Maker City LA (1933 S Broadway, Los Angeles, 11th floor) on Friday, March 21 at 7:00PM Pacific Time, which is open to the public. TechShop and executives from The REEF will discuss details about the facility as well as the goals for funding and membership commitment to be achieved over the next four months in order to make TechShop Los Angeles a reality. To RSVP for the event, go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bring-techshop-to-la-tickets-10984122807.

The REEF, home to the Maker City LA, Magic Box, and LA Mart communities, is an innovation hub that provides access to design, co-working, creative office, trade show space and the West Coast’s leading gift and home furnishing source for retailers and designers. Easily accessible by public transportation and major freeways, The REEF sits in downtown LA, near the University of Southern California campus and next to LA Trade Tech.

“We are delighted to help bring TechShop to Los Angeles, and to downtown," said Ava Bromberg, Senior Vice President of Business Development for The REEF. "Our aim with The REEF is to help provide creative businesses the tools they need to be successful, all under one roof. We have spaces for creation, exhibition and commerce, and tens of thousands of retailers and consumers look to our building as a resource for new products and ideas. TechShop is a fantastic addition to our creative habitat, and we are excited to help welcome and grow their community at The REEF.”

“TechShop would be a great addition to Downtown Los Angeles,” said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. “I'm excited at the prospect of having this new infrastructure to support innovation, creative manufacturing, and small businesses in the heart of our City.”

TechShop Los Angeles marks the first partnership to grow out of the “Bring TechShop to Your City” campaign. The campaign began in September 2013 with a goal of raising $60 million to build new facilities in communities across America. The new fundraising, made possible through the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act, has enabled TechShop to invite a broader group of investors, including smaller and community-minded investors, to participate in the business and bring TechShop to their cities.

In order to bring TechShop to Los Angeles by the end of the year, TechShop will seek to secure $1.7M in funding through individual, corporate and institutional investments as well as advance membership commitment from those interested in bringing TechShop to the city.

For more information on investing and/or joining the campaign to bring TechShop to Los Angeles, go to http://invest.techshop.ws/los-angeles.

World-Class Creative Workspace and Prototyping Studio TechShop members have access to a world-class workshop with machines, tools, training, inspiration and support they need to pursue their passions, develop new skills and launch new businesses. Each location includes:

More than $1 million worth of machines, tools and equipment Hundreds of classes each month for members and non-members Friendly, knowledgeable and highly-trained staff A community of innovative makers, artists and entrepreneurs Group event spaces and workshops About TechShop, Inc. Founded in October 2006, TechShop is a membership-based, do-it-yourself (DIY) workshop and fabrication studio providing access to a vibrant community of creative people and more than $1 million worth of high quality machines, tools and software. TechShop offers classes, workshops, instruction and meet-ups for people of all ages and skill levels. TechShop is based in Menlo Park, Calif., with locations nationwide.

For information and course listings, visit www.techshop.com, email info@techshop.com or call 855-TECHSHOP. You can follow TechShop on Twitter at "@TechShop." TechShop is also on Facebook as "TechShop Incorporated."