Why The Pickard?
What inspires the vision of The Pickard? There are a number of community-based models that contribute to its planning and design.
Makerspaces
Maker Media describes Makerspaces this way.
“Makerspaces are community centers with tools. Makerspaces combine manufacturing equipment, community, and education for the purposes of enabling community members to design, prototype and create manufactured works that wouldn’t be possible to create with the resources available to individuals working alone.
These spaces can take the form of loosely-organized individuals sharing space and tools, for-profit companies, non-profit corporations, organizations affiliated with or hosted within schools, universities or libraries, and more. All are united in the purpose of providing access to equipment, community, and education, and all are unique in exactly how they are arranged to fit the purposes of the community they serve.” https://spaces.makerspace.com/
The Maker Movement democratizes education and development by bringing creative people together and providing access to fabrication tools, equipment, and machinery. It encourages people to learn in creative and hands-on ways and empowers people with skills that can launch their own small businesses or side-income projects.
Currently, it is estimated that there are over 700 Makerspaces in the US, all of them constructed differently to serve the distinct communities in which they are located.
Community Centers
These public centers feature numerous recreational options, along with non-recreational programming and services, with the intention of connecting community members to one another while they pursue interests.
Collaborative Work Spaces
With co-working spaces like WeWork taking hold in metropolitan areas, modern professionals or businesses can do their work in collaborative, beautiful, and flexible environments. These spaces create atmospheres (facility layout and decor, lighting, services, art, technology, etc) that inspire productivity and attract talent.