Community developers at Walsh, the largest development underway in the U.S. within 12 minutes of a major city center, will speak on embracing the Maker Movement and how maker cities can drive economic growth across the country during the 2017 SXSW Create festival on March 11.
Walsh, a 7,200-acre development under construction west of Fort Worth, recently announced it will be the first community in the United States to be built from the ground up around a dedicated Makerspace. A Makerspace is a collaborative workspace open to adults and children that provides public access to tools and training in manufacturing, as well as 21st century technology, in an environment designed to foster education, entrepreneurship and business cultivation.
Tony Ruggeri, co-CEO of Republic Property Group, will join Mark Hatch, author of the best-selling book The Maker Movement Manifesto and co-founder of TechShop, to discuss the vision behind building a Makerspace at Walsh. The presentation at SXSW Create will include a Q&A session open to the public at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 11 at the Palmer Events Center. SXSW Create is the hardware hacking and maker arm of SXSW, offering a platform for entrepreneurs and innovators to do revolutionary things with new technologies and highlight forward-thinking creations that will shape the future.
“We are excited to give students, entrepreneurs and innovators of all ages the opportunity to create things from the ground up,” said Ruggeri. “The Makerspace at Walsh and our investment in fiber internet infrastructure will be a major draw for current and future North Texas residents, businesses, schools and more.”
Mark Hatch partnered with Walsh developers to help with the design, construction, tools and programming that will be offered at The Makerspace at Walsh. As part of the growing Maker movement, The Makerspace at Walsh will serve as a gathering place and source of inspiration for students, hobbyists, entrepreneurs and tinkerers, providing access to the tools and technology not readily available elsewhere.
“Walsh is unlike any other community in that it gives a place where both children and adults can teach, explore, share and create with one another to help make something great,” said Hatch. “Their philosophy of morphing old ways with new and innovative concepts to create a hybrid community will truly make Walsh a unique place to live.”
Walsh Internal Announcement | Wednesday, March 8, 2017
