Facilities
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.
This space supports exploration with both traditional and experimental textile techniques.
This shop supports basic to advanced woodworking, along with welding and fabrication.
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.
Nancy Spirtas Kranzberg Studio for the Illustrated Book
A collaboration with WashU Libraries, the Book Studio is a working book and print production facility.
The first floor of Bixby Hall features an expansive integrated printmaking suite for letterpress, etching, lithography, and illustrated books.
This shop houses plaster and mold-making, foundry, and ceramics facilities, including several ironworkers and kilns. An adjoining space features a plaster room.
This shop supports basic woodworking, and is equipped with stationary woodworking machines, a suite of hand tools, ample workbenches, and bins of catalogued materials.
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.
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.
This fully equipped space supports professional photo shoots for fashion, advertising, and documentation, and rent specialty equipment, like large-format cameras.
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
The Media Studio supports digital, electronic, and analog production and post-production of time-based and media works.
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.
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.