1980 – 2024

The Forge

by Sam Chiappone

One of my First Stories involves my role as an advisory team member tasked with launching the inaugural maker space within the School of Engineering, known as the Forge. The Forge is a collaborative venture between the School of Engineering and the Student Union. What originated as a Fall 2015 student project in my General Manufacturing Processes class, with a team of four, has grown into one of the more popular student clubs on campus, with a membership of over 150 students in the fall of '23. With ongoing support from the School of Engineering, the Student Union, staff, and an advisory group, the Forge has evolved into a community where students come together to collaborate, innovate, and contribute to design and manufacturing efforts for class assignments, personal projects, club activities, or Undergraduate Research Program (URP) initiatives. While supported by the School of Engineering, the Forge functions as a cross-cutting resource accessible to students from all disciplines, establishing itself as a genuine knowledge hub for design and manufacturing expertise for students. Forge members also promote STEM opportunities through various Rensselaer Engineering Ambassador outreach programs for K-12 Students. The Forge stands as an example of providing students with opportunities to learn beyond the traditional classroom setting. It serves as a space for them to envision, explore, collaborate, and innovate alongside their peers, managing the space collectively. As a member of the Forge advisory team, it is exciting for me to contribute to and witness the growth of this group. I look forward to continuing to advise this group and am excited to imagine the future of the Forge.