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Caleres Fabrication Studio

Caleres Fabrication Studio

This studio is both the physical and conceputal heart of Weil Hall, providing a centrally located space to work on complex projects, including digital fabrication.

Two smiling people hold up the corners of a pink hand-dyed piece of fabric.

Textile Studio

This space supports exploration with both traditional and experimental textile techniques.

Student working with wires at a table with two drills on it. Behind the student are shelves of supplies in the shop space.

Bixby 3D Design Shop

This shop supports basic woodworking, and is equipped with stationary woodworking machines, a suite of hand tools, ample workbenches, and bins of catalogued materials.

Person arranges a tray of moveable type on a table in an expansive printmaking studio space.

Nancy Spirtas Kranzberg Studio for the Illustrated Book

A collaboration with WashU Libraries, the Book Studio is a working book and print production facility.

Two people in protective equipment use a welding torch.

Walker Metal Shop

This shop includes supports blacksmithing, manual fabrication, foundry, metalsmithing, plasma cutting, and welding. A nearby chemical process room supports work with rubber, resin, and adhesives.

Person in goggles and earmuffs uses a table saw in a shop space.

Walker Wood Shop

This space supports basic, intermediate, and advanced woodworking, and includes band saws, sanders, table saws, jointers, planers, miter saws, and a multitude of hand tools.

Two people use woodworking equipment in a shop space with wood and metalworking tools.

Givens Wood & Metal Shop

This shop supports basic to advanced woodworking, along with welding and fabrication.

Spacious, light-filled printmaking studio space; two students are working at a table in the middle of the room.

Dubinsky Printmaking Studio

The first floor of Bixby Hall features an expansive integrated printmaking suite for letterpress, etching, lithography, and illustrated books.

Several people observe a software demonstration on a large monitor. 3D-printed ceramic objects sit on the table and shelves of clay and tools line the walls.

Walker Ceramics Shop

This shop houses plaster and mold-making, foundry, and ceramics facilities, including several ironworkers and kilns. An adjoining space features a plaster room.

Photo joshua white jwpictures.com 0311

Whitaker Learning Lab

The Whitaker Learning Lab serves as the main hub for most printing activity in the School. It also houses computer labs and the CTC Mini, a special technology equipment resource.

Photo in a darkened room, of people watching a screening of a film with a digitized, double-image of a person lying on rocks.

Media Studio

The Media Studio supports digital, electronic, and analog production and post-production of time-based and media works.

Computer lab with mauve colored walls

Film Scanning Room

The Film Scanning room is available to students currently enrolled in a photography course, students who have received prior permission, or students who have received prior permission, or students who

Person photographing work in the lighting studio, using special equipment such as an unfurled white backdrop and lights.

Lighting Studio

This fully equipped space supports professional photo shoots for fashion, advertising, and documentation, and rent specialty equipment, like large-format cameras.

A student cuts into a ball of fabric

Fashion Design Shop

This space gives access to home sewing machines, industrial sewing machines, professional pattern making table space, industrial irons, donated fabric and basic pattern drafting and sewing supplies.

Photo of a student working in a photography darkroom; the photo has a deep orange tint to it.

Darkroom

Students enrolled in photography courses can use one of several fully-equipped darkrooms to process black and white film and create black and white photographic prints.

Room with bright green walls and long tables on each side with several printers sitting on top.

Inkjet Printing Lab

The Inkjet Printing Lab (aka the Digital Output Lab) is available for students to make inkjet prints of photographs for their courses.

The Sam Fox School supports an interdisciplinary approach to studio practice. Students are encouraged to create and develop new skills as makers and thinkers. The Sam Fox School has a variety of specialized facilities, such as shops, labs, and studios, to support this mission. The primary purpose of these specialized facilities is to support Sam Fox School students and students enrolled in Sam Fox School courses. Studio, shop and lab access is limited to those taking courses in the Sam Fox School. Sam Fox School faculty, Sam Fox visiting faculty, and WashU faculty working on a collaborative project with Sam Fox School may have access to these facilities outside of coursework for research and creative practice with prior approval from the program directors and the Office of the Dean.

For more details, please visit Inside Sam Fox.


Studio Spaces


See where you'll work

Student studio spaces are located in close proximity to resources for making and learning, including shops and spaces for installation, pin-ups, and critiques. Students from various programs and levels work in close proximity to one another, promoting cross-disciplinary exchange.


Shop Policies


Attire

Users with improper attire will be prohibited from working in the shop. For general work, wear close-toed shoes, tie back long hair, and do not wear loose garments. For hot work, you must have natural fiber clothing and sturdy leather boots.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Safety glasses and hearing protection are required for all. Regular eye glasses are not safety glasses, users with glasses must wear safety glasses over their frames or wear a face shield (prescription safety glasses available from an optometrist).

Training

In order to use the equipment users must be trained by a qualified technician/faculty member. Monitors are not qualified to train users; however they may verify credentials, identify unsafe operations, and request that non-compliant users leave the shop.

State of Mind

Do not work in the shop under the influence of alcohol, or drugs (prescription or recreational). Do not work in a sleep-deprived state. If you shouldn’t be driving, you shouldn’t be working in the shop.

Plan Every Step

Only cut what needs to be cut, carefully avoiding limbs and appendages.

Never Work Alone

Stationary power tools may only be used when a monitor/technician/faculty member is present. When working after hours you should never work alone—always have a fellow Sam Fox School student present.

No Food or Drink

Do not bring food or drink into the shop. Carts/tables are available in the hallway to store your food and beverages.

Don’t Rush

Approach the shop as you would a potential risk. Be intentional with your movements, be mindful of your body, and take your time.

Communicate and Document

Sign in and out of the shop. Injuries and damaged equipment should be reported to the monitor/technician immediately. Come prepared with a sketchbook and something to write with.