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Since its opening in fall 2024, Newton Country Day’s Innovation and Design Lab has transformed how students learn, create, and problem-solve. Thanks to the generous Fund-A-Need donations at the 2023 and 2024 Très Bien Auctions, the state-of-the-art lab is equipped with 3D printers, laser cutters, electronics workstations, and flexible collaboration space, providing students the tools they need to innovate and bring their ideas to life. 

Upper School Engineering Design students work in the lab to transform their ideas into functional prototypes. One project from this year involved students designing planter pots, introducing them to user-centered design while teaching them how to operate the lab’s cutting-edge machinery. Engineering students also designed and prototyped a model Boda Borg room (an automated puzzle). This process involved coding and building electronics, then using 3D printers and laser cutters in the lab to create components of the puzzle’s features. 

The lab has also expanded what’s possible for students engaged in Independent Research. Dr. Sarah Webster, Director of Independent Research and the Science and Engineering Fair Coordinator explains: “The Innovation Lab is used by the Independent Research students who are engaged in engineering design projects. Building and testing often takes up more surface area than a typical classroom table. The big tables in the design lab provide an opportunity to spread out materials and look at designs from different perspectives. In Independent Research, students develop question asking skills, creativity in iterating on answers to those questions, persistence in the face of multiple failures, and the courage and confidence to present their solutions to the larger community.”

Cecilia McKeigue ‘27 used the lab’s tools for her Independent Research project, which focused on developing an adaptive iPad mount and case capable of withstanding significant force, specifically for individuals with motor disabilities and cerebral palsy. She used the 3D printers multiple times to produce more than eight copies of a specialized component designed to absorb the force exerted on the iPad. In addition, McKeigue relied heavily on the laser cutter to precisely cut the wooden components that formed the rest of the case and stand. Nearly every aspect of her project was created using the Innovation Lab’s 3D printers and laser cutter, demonstrating how the space supports student-driven engineering work.

Upper School Geometry classes also make regular use of the space, completing two projects each year: tessellation tile designs and an architecture project in which they apply geometric principles to create detailed, laser-cut structures. Geometry teacher Ms. Jacqueline Finnegan reflected on how the lab supports the learning goals of her course: “It allows students to have a physical product in an otherwise abstract class,” she explained. “Think about all the different mathematics courses – there are so few times when students can actually have a tangible object that they created using mathematics.” With teacher assistance and training, students use the Glowforge, a 3D laser printer, for their tessellation tile project to etch and cut tiles which they design using GeoGebra, an interactive math application. 

In the Grade 7 Digital Design and Production class, taught by Ms. Divya Kopalle, students were challenged to build a mini playground structure. The result was a wide variety of designs that included swings, climbing walls, and even a working carousel. Students used materials such as X-Acto knives and canary cutters to create their projects. In their next unit, students will learn how to use the laser cutter. “We start with cardboard because it is something they are familiar with, and teach them how they can cut and shape it to build something. Once they have building basics down, we move to teaching them about the laser cutter and working with wood,” Kopalle explained. “Through the laser cutter unit, students also learn about the technology used for the 3D printers, which creates a nice segue into how to use them.”

The Innovation and Design Lab has quickly become a space where students move from concept to creation. With classes across disciplines continuing to utilize the space and its equipment, students develop the confidence to design, build, and problem-solve in ways that deepen their understanding of both abstract concepts and real-world applications. The lab reflects Newton Country Day’s commitment to fostering curiosity, creativity, and meaningful, hands-on learning that encourages students to think critically and outside the box. 

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