Mines celebrates 150th anniversary with grand opening of Labriola Innovation Hub

Mines students tour one of the many makerspaces inside the Labriola Innovation Hub. The crown jewel of the Mines' Entrepreneurship & Innovation Ecosystem, Labriola centralizes campus makerspaces, adds specialized classrooms and incorporates much-needed student-project meeting spaces. (Photo by Nate Bryce)

The first 3,000 people in attendance at the Grand Opening Celebration got a special Mines@150 mug inspired by the line of the Mines Fight Song, "I wish I had a barrel of rum and sugar three hundred pounds."

J. Don Thorson '55, center, speaks to current Capstone Design students in the new lab and workspace he and his wife, Lois, sponsored inside the Labriola Innovation Hub.

Blaster the Burro was ready to pose for selfies with Mines alumni, students and staff throughout the day's festivities. (Photo by Nate Bryce)

Dean Nieusma, associate professor and head of the Engineering, Design & Society Department, leads a VIP tour of the Labriola Innovation Hub. Many Capstone Design projects will be moving into the Labriola Innovation District buildings in the coming weeks.

It's not a birthday party without cake: Orediggers made quick work of the cupcakes at the Feb. 9 celebration.

Student employees of the Labriola Innovation Hub explain the features of one of the makerspaces during the grand opening. Among the spaces in Labriola are wood and metal shops, a 3D-print and rapid prototyping makerspace, electronics lab, composites and paint shop, and a tool check-out.

Mines President Paul C. Johnson addresses the crowd during the day's festivities. "The Labriola Innovation District further distinguishes Mines among the world’s top universities and is evidence of our commitment to project-based and hands-on learning and developing the next generations of innovators and entrepreneurs," Johnson said.