Blab Tech
LEMI Labs Opens in Lakeside, Ohio, Offering Hands-On Maker Space for All Ages
On May 22, 2026, the quiet resort town of Lakeside, Ohio, welcomed a fresh pulse of creativity when former science teacher and robotics coach Andy Bruening opened LEMI Labs (Lakeside Education Maker & Invention Labs) in the historic Chautauqua Hall at 236 Walnut Ave. The ribbon‑cutting ceremony ran alongside the community’s summer gates opening, signaling the start of Lakeside’s seasonal programming.
Bruening’s journey to the makerspace began after he lost his teaching position in December 2025. He said the idea “just kind of happened” and that the timing was right. In a launch announcement, he outlined the lab’s arsenal of digital fabrication tools: multiple 3‑D printers, laser cutters, a desktop CNC machine, vinyl cutters, and a versatile laser capable of cutting plastics, wood, thin metals, and engraving metal.
The space is built to echo the hands‑on approach Bruening pioneered in 2010 at Metro Early College High School in Columbus, where he helped launch a fab lab that started with three printers and several CNC machines to support project‑based learning. “I used to lecture and then give tests,” he recalled. “Once I started the fab lab, it became hands‑on: build it, make it, break it and do it again.” LEMI Labs aims to bring that same experiential learning to a broader community.
LEMI Labs will run a variety of programs for children, teens, and adults. The first summer series, Erie Monster Makers, will let younger participants build projects ranging from simple cardboard and popsicle‑stick constructions to more advanced creations, depending on skill level. Certain classes require a minimum age of third grade, while adult workshops will run in the evenings to accommodate families. All participants receive safety training before using any equipment.
The makerspace’s schedule features youth sessions from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Thursday, with two‑hour afternoon workshops focused on 3‑D printing and basic vinyl and laser cutting. Mixed‑age groups are also planned. Bruening emphasized flipping the traditional dynamic in Lakeside, where older residents often teach younger ones how to sail. “Now it’s flipping the script and getting the kids to teach their grandparents and parents all this different technology,” he said.
LEMI Labs’ opening follows a long tradition of community education in Lakeside, a private resort community on Lake Erie that has maintained an independent Chautauqua model since the 19th century. The new makerspace is positioned to complement existing summer programs and to attract residents of all ages who are interested in digital fabrication and STEM skills.
Registration for LEMI Labs will be available online and in person, with fees varying by class length. Bruening noted that the space is ready for visitors and that he has already used the equipment to create custom lampshades as a personal touch to the facility.
As Lakeside enters its summer season, LEMI Labs stands as the community’s first makerspace of its kind, offering residents a chance to learn and create with modern fabrication tools. The launch marks a new chapter in Lakeside’s long history of adult education and community enrichment.
Bruening’s journey to the makerspace began after he lost his teaching position in December 2025. He said the idea “just kind of happened” and that the timing was right. In a launch announcement, he outlined the lab’s arsenal of digital fabrication tools: multiple 3‑D printers, laser cutters, a desktop CNC machine, vinyl cutters, and a versatile laser capable of cutting plastics, wood, thin metals, and engraving metal.
The space is built to echo the hands‑on approach Bruening pioneered in 2010 at Metro Early College High School in Columbus, where he helped launch a fab lab that started with three printers and several CNC machines to support project‑based learning. “I used to lecture and then give tests,” he recalled. “Once I started the fab lab, it became hands‑on: build it, make it, break it and do it again.” LEMI Labs aims to bring that same experiential learning to a broader community.
LEMI Labs will run a variety of programs for children, teens, and adults. The first summer series, Erie Monster Makers, will let younger participants build projects ranging from simple cardboard and popsicle‑stick constructions to more advanced creations, depending on skill level. Certain classes require a minimum age of third grade, while adult workshops will run in the evenings to accommodate families. All participants receive safety training before using any equipment.
The makerspace’s schedule features youth sessions from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Thursday, with two‑hour afternoon workshops focused on 3‑D printing and basic vinyl and laser cutting. Mixed‑age groups are also planned. Bruening emphasized flipping the traditional dynamic in Lakeside, where older residents often teach younger ones how to sail. “Now it’s flipping the script and getting the kids to teach their grandparents and parents all this different technology,” he said.
LEMI Labs’ opening follows a long tradition of community education in Lakeside, a private resort community on Lake Erie that has maintained an independent Chautauqua model since the 19th century. The new makerspace is positioned to complement existing summer programs and to attract residents of all ages who are interested in digital fabrication and STEM skills.
Registration for LEMI Labs will be available online and in person, with fees varying by class length. Bruening noted that the space is ready for visitors and that he has already used the equipment to create custom lampshades as a personal touch to the facility.
As Lakeside enters its summer season, LEMI Labs stands as the community’s first makerspace of its kind, offering residents a chance to learn and create with modern fabrication tools. The launch marks a new chapter in Lakeside’s long history of adult education and community enrichment.
