Welcome to the Innovation Center
The Huff Family Innovation Center is a dynamic makerspace, where students and community members from any background can engage in hands-on learning and innovative projects. Visitors are welcome to visit our active learning space, where you can occasionally view our students working in the space when classes are in session.
As one of the Midwest's largest makerspaces, measuring nearly 20,000 square feet, the center offers tools and space for woodworking, metalworking, 3D printing, fabrication, textiles, vinyl, video production, and more. This vibrant space also serves as a focal point for local entrepreneurs and community members to develop prototypes.
Upcoming Events
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Dec03
Maker Egg DropDec 03, 2025 | 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm | Huff Family Innovation Center, Busby Hall , Platteville, WI
The time again tradition of the egg drop... Our makers will be making a contraption to protect an innocent egg from its dangerous journey of a small 30ft fall. Who will design the best contraption? Only time will say. Come and find out Wednesday night!
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Dec10
Paper Airplane MakingDec 10, 2025 | 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm | Huff Family Innovation Center, Busby Hall , Platteville, WI
Our makers will soar this Wednesday night (12/10/25) as they attempt to make the longest flying paper airplane. Soar the longest to win a prize!
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Dec16
HFIC's Holiday Give, Make, and TakeDec 16, 2025 | 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm | Sesquicentennial Hall 252 , Platteville, WI
Join us for HFIC's Holiday Give, Make & Take event on Tuesday, December 16th, 6–8 PM, in Sesquicentennial Hall 252! Bring at least two shelf-stable food items (pasta, rice, canned vegetables, canned fruit, etc.) to participate. Each pair of items lets you choose one of our gift-making stations, where you’ll use real tools and equipment to craft something one of a kind! We've got several options from engraved keepsakes to printed ornaments to personalized textiles. Every gift you make supports a greater cause: all donated food items will go directly to the Platteville Public Library pantry program. Come for the giving spirit, stay for the creativity.
Explore the Space
The Huff Family Innovation Center, found on the main floor of Sesquicentennial Hall, provides a variety of 250+ tools as well as spaces to work and collaborate for students and community members. Some equipment will require training, and a membership is required for community members.
Virtual tour of Sesquicentennial Hall
Launch Engineering, Mathematics, & Sciences
Metalworking
A metal fabrication shop with access to Manual/CNC machining, welding, plasma cutting, and more!
Woodworking
A wood shop with full scope capabilities for cutting, sanding, planing, gluing, and other woodworking practices.
Digital Fabrication
A rapid prototyping space with a multitude of new technologies such as 2D printing, 3D printing, and laser cutting.
Textiles
An embroidery and sewing space where students and members can create clothing or other accessories.
Electronics
An electronics space with access to power supplies, oscillators, and soldering equipment.
Video Production
A greenroom for creating audio, video, and photography.
Prototyping Services
Bring your ideas to life with UW-Platteville's Pioneer Prototyping Services, where our faculty and students will fabricate your project for you!
Hands-on learning
Hear about the skills you can learn from one of our student instructor technicians, Nikki Holmer.
Serving artists and engineers alike, our makerspace encourages collaboration across disciplines.
Interested in learning more?
To find more information on memberships, training, reserving spaces, and prototyping, contact us directly at hfic@uwplatt.edu.
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Mason KobliskaWiSys Prototyping Manager
Mission
The UW-Platteville Innovation Center supports an inclusive maker community dedicated to fostering innovation, learning through creating and building, and expanding knowledge with technology and creativity.
- All users (regardless of major, underrepresented status, level of experience with making, etc.) will feel welcome to participate.
- Programming will attract a variety of users to the space and improve the making and safety skills of all users.
- Innovation Center operations will complement and coordinate with activities at other makerspaces on campus.
- The Innovation Center will foster entrepreneurial mindset in students, staff, and the community.
Values
- diversity and inclusion
- a growth mindset
- learning by doing
- a positive attitude
- cross-disciplinary collaboration
- big ideas