Starting in February 2025, construction crews will put hammer to nail on an innovative hub soon to be known as the Flex Factory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once complete, the 17,000 square foot space will marry the equipment and technical capabilities of the Prototype Lab with the Wilson College\u2019s Senior Design Lab, which today hosts seniors working on capstone projects in the Wilson College\u2019s textile engineering and textile technology programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Capable of hosting a diverse array of users and projects, the Flex Factory is seen as a hive for student researchers and entrepreneurs, each of whom will be able to leverage the expertise of Wilson College faculty and staff \u2014 and make use of the facility\u2019s state-of-the-art equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/tex-cloud-cdn.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/textiles-ncsu\/20240827151559\/IMG_9890-Enhanced-NR-1024x576.jpg\")
\u201cWe\u2019re going to be able to provide the space, and the programming, and programming support, for student innovation across campus,\u201d says Bailey Knight<\/a>, laboratory manager, noting that the facility will be an asset not just to the Wilson College \u2014 but also to those throughout the university.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How the Flex Factory will work<\/h3>\n\n\n\nEntrepreneurs interested in using the Flex Factory will be able to go online, fill out a form and explain what they\u2019d like to make. Then, West\u2019s team will follow up with the client with details on how the center might be able to help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Visitors to the Prototype Lab portion of the Flex Factory will be able to make use of the facility\u2019s yarn spinning, fabric cutting, sewing and printing capabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Critically, the facility will also offer users the chance to experiment using high-dollar equipment and tiny quantities of material \u2014 both key hurdles to early-stage product development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI think of this space as a stepping stone for the startups, or entrepreneurs, to move to the next stage without the huge cost of bearing all that equipment that needs to be bought,\u201d West explains. \u201cWe can do that with our skills, with our knowledge, with our teaching capacity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/tex-cloud-cdn.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/textiles-ncsu\/20240827150529\/wilson-college-of-textiles-ncsu-5jpg_53690428815_o-1024x576.jpg\")
Student Kat Charrier at work in the Prototype Lab. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nMake no mistake, the upcoming renovation will also transform what is, currently, a fairly nondescript-looking space into a state-of-the-art facility, with design plans calling for a concept lab, classrooms and sound-proof rooms necessary for confidential work, such as projects conducted in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Defense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Altogether, the facility is poised to offer the latest evidence of the entrepreneurial boom on the NC State\u2019s Centennial Campus, says Dean David Hinks, Wilson College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe mission of the new Flex Factory is to serve as a catalyst for students across NC State to create new, more sustainable textile-based products and businesses by having access to state-of-the-art equipment, expertise and mentorship,\u201d Hinks says. \u201cIt will augment the already outstanding entrepreneurship ecosystem already in place on Centennial Campus and across all colleges at NC State.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Looking forward<\/h3>\n\n\n\nMonths before the Flex Factory retrofit has begun, the early results are promising.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Prototype Lab already boasts a packed schedule, currently supporting more than a dozen projects. In many ways, West says, it\u2019s validated the $8 million in investment from donors and university contributions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a proving ground for us at this point,\u201d West says of the Prototype Lab. \u201cJust as much as it\u2019s a proving ground for the projects that we take in.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/tex-cloud-cdn.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/textiles-ncsu\/20240827150713\/wilson-college-of-textiles-ncsu-11jpg_53689989556_o-1024x576.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOf course, the finished Flex Factory will involve some hard hats and adjustments in the meantime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some work in the Prototype Lab will pause while the space undergoes its facelift in 2025 to make it more \u201ccutting edge\u201d and \u201crevolutionary,\u201d as West puts it \u2014 from the technical equipment itself to mezzanines and glass windows to make the space open and viewable to passersby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But for a college that has been around for 125 years, this innovative space appears to be a major step into the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe greatest thing about America is we\u2019re full of entrepreneurs. But you have to give them the space, and you have to give them the opportunities,\u201d West says. \u201cThat takes money and space. And that\u2019s what we\u2019re doing.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false,"raw":"\n\n\n\n\n
Walk into the Prototype Lab on the first floor of the Wilson College of Textiles on any given day, and you\u2019re sure to see a flurry of activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You could find a student working with a 3D printer, giving literal shape to a new product concept.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nearby, an entrepreneur might be researching the next concept they hope to someday bring to market, tapping into the facility\u2019s state-of-the-art sewing or bonding equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s really quite busy,\u201d remarks Andre West<\/a>, director of NC State\u2019s Zeis Textiles Extension<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But for all its early success since opening last summer, the Prototype Lab<\/a> is, in many ways, just getting started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A major renovation starts in 2025<\/h3>\n\n\n\nStarting in February 2025, construction crews will put hammer to nail on an innovative hub soon to be known as the Flex Factory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once complete, the 17,000 square foot space will marry the equipment and technical capabilities of the Prototype Lab with the Wilson College\u2019s Senior Design Lab, which today hosts seniors working on capstone projects in the Wilson College\u2019s textile engineering and textile technology programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Capable of hosting a diverse array of users and projects, the Flex Factory is seen as a hive for student researchers and entrepreneurs, each of whom will be able to leverage the expertise of Wilson College faculty and staff \u2014 and make use of the facility\u2019s state-of-the-art equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A look at the Senior Design Lab as it is currently configured. The space will ultimately be integrated into the Flex Factory. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u201cWe\u2019re going to be able to provide the space, and the programming, and programming support, for student innovation across campus,\u201d says Bailey Knight<\/a>, laboratory manager, noting that the facility will be an asset not just to the Wilson College \u2014 but also to those throughout the university.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How the Flex Factory will work<\/h3>\n\n\n\nEntrepreneurs interested in using the Flex Factory will be able to go online, fill out a form and explain what they\u2019d like to make. Then, West\u2019s team will follow up with the client with details on how the center might be able to help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Visitors to the Prototype Lab portion of the Flex Factory will be able to make use of the facility\u2019s yarn spinning, fabric cutting, sewing and printing capabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Critically, the facility will also offer users the chance to experiment using high-dollar equipment and tiny quantities of material \u2014 both key hurdles to early-stage product development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI think of this space as a stepping stone for the startups, or entrepreneurs, to move to the next stage without the huge cost of bearing all that equipment that needs to be bought,\u201d West explains. \u201cWe can do that with our skills, with our knowledge, with our teaching capacity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Student Kat Charrier at work in the Prototype Lab. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nMake no mistake, the upcoming renovation will also transform what is, currently, a fairly nondescript-looking space into a state-of-the-art facility, with design plans calling for a concept lab, classrooms and sound-proof rooms necessary for confidential work, such as projects conducted in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Defense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Altogether, the facility is poised to offer the latest evidence of the entrepreneurial boom on the NC State\u2019s Centennial Campus, says Dean David Hinks, Wilson College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe mission of the new Flex Factory is to serve as a catalyst for students across NC State to create new, more sustainable textile-based products and businesses by having access to state-of-the-art equipment, expertise and mentorship,\u201d Hinks says. \u201cIt will augment the already outstanding entrepreneurship ecosystem already in place on Centennial Campus and across all colleges at NC State.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Looking forward<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Months before the Flex Factory retrofit has begun, the early results are promising.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Prototype Lab already boasts a packed schedule, currently supporting more than a dozen projects. In many ways, West says, it\u2019s validated the $8 million in investment from donors and university contributions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a proving ground for us at this point,\u201d West says of the Prototype Lab. \u201cJust as much as it\u2019s a proving ground for the projects that we take in.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOf course, the finished Flex Factory will involve some hard hats and adjustments in the meantime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some work in the Prototype Lab will pause while the space undergoes its facelift in 2025 to make it more \u201ccutting edge\u201d and \u201crevolutionary,\u201d as West puts it \u2014 from the technical equipment itself to mezzanines and glass windows to make the space open and viewable to passersby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But for a college that has been around for 125 years, this innovative space appears to be a major step into the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe greatest thing about America is we\u2019re full of entrepreneurs. But you have to give them the space, and you have to give them the opportunities,\u201d West says. \u201cThat takes money and space. And that\u2019s what we\u2019re doing.\u201d<\/p>\n"},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Slated for construction in early 2025, this state-of-the-art facility will combine the Wilson College of Textiles Prototype Lab and the Senior Design Lab in one space.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":66147,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"source":"","ncst_custom_author":"Sean Cudahy","ncst_show_custom_author":true,"ncst_dynamicHeaderBlockName":"ncst\/default-post-header","ncst_dynamicHeaderData":"{\"displayCategoryID\":512,\"showAuthor\":true,\"showDate\":true,\"showFeaturedVideo\":false,\"subtitle\":\"Slated for construction in early 2025, this state-of-the-art facility will combine the Wilson College of Textiles Prototype Lab and the Senior Design Lab in one space.\u00a0\"}","ncst_content_audit_freq":"","ncst_content_audit_date":"","ncst_content_audit_display":false,"ncst_backToTopFlag":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[742,512,496,479],"tags":[1875,1143,1431,504,1382,898],"_ncst_magazine_issue":[],"class_list":["post-66146","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-newswire","category-research-and-innovation","category-tatm","category-tecs","tag-department-of-textile-and-apparel-technology-and-management","tag-department-of-textile-engineering-chemistry-and-science","tag-entrepreneurship","tag-research","tag-wilson-college-of-textiles","tag-zeis-textiles-extension"],"displayCategory":{"term_id":512,"name":"Research and Innovation","slug":"research-and-innovation","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":512,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":256,"filter":"raw"},"acf":{"ncst_posts_meta_modified_date":null},"yoast_head":"
Innovative Flex Factory to Serve Students, Industry Partners Under One Roof - Wilson College of Textiles<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/2024\/08\/innovative-flex-factory-to-serve-students-industry-partners-under-one-roof\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Innovative Flex Factory to Serve Students, Industry Partners Under One Roof - Wilson College of Textiles\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Slated for construction in early 2025, this state-of-the-art facility will combine the Wilson College of Textiles Prototype Lab and the Senior Design Lab in one space.\u00a0\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/2024\/08\/innovative-flex-factory-to-serve-students-industry-partners-under-one-roof\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Wilson College of Textiles\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-08-27T19:18:12+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-01-25T14:49:33+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/tex-cloud-cdn.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/textiles-ncsu\/20240827150053\/IMG_2099-3.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1500\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"844\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Wilson College Communications\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Wilson College Communications\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/2024\/08\/innovative-flex-factory-to-serve-students-industry-partners-under-one-roof\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/2024\/08\/innovative-flex-factory-to-serve-students-industry-partners-under-one-roof\/\",\"name\":\"Innovative Flex Factory to Serve Students, Industry Partners Under One Roof - Wilson College of Textiles\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/2024\/08\/innovative-flex-factory-to-serve-students-industry-partners-under-one-roof\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/2024\/08\/innovative-flex-factory-to-serve-students-industry-partners-under-one-roof\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/tex-cloud-cdn.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/textiles-ncsu\/20240827150053\/IMG_2099-3.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-08-27T19:18:12+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-01-25T14:49:33+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/#\/schema\/person\/10505fa89d5a697382b472f4eb881742\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/2024\/08\/innovative-flex-factory-to-serve-students-industry-partners-under-one-roof\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/2024\/08\/innovative-flex-factory-to-serve-students-industry-partners-under-one-roof\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/2024\/08\/innovative-flex-factory-to-serve-students-industry-partners-under-one-roof\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/tex-cloud-cdn.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/textiles-ncsu\/20240827150053\/IMG_2099-3.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/tex-cloud-cdn.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/textiles-ncsu\/20240827150053\/IMG_2099-3.jpg\",\"width\":1500,\"height\":844,\"caption\":\"Bailey Knight (left) and Andre West (right) stand in the Prototype Lab, discussing designs printed onto a tote bag. Bailey points at the fabric laid out on a large cutting table, which features several tote bags with colorful prints. Various sewing and cutting machines are in the background.\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/2024\/08\/innovative-flex-factory-to-serve-students-industry-partners-under-one-roof\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Innovative Flex Factory to Serve Students, Industry Partners Under One Roof\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/\",\"name\":\"Wilson College of Textiles\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/#\/schema\/person\/10505fa89d5a697382b472f4eb881742\",\"name\":\"Wilson College Communications\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/05eec4d159f3a97620394baf454d81ea?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/05eec4d159f3a97620394baf454d81ea?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Wilson College Communications\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/author\/staff\/\"}]}<\/script>","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Innovative Flex Factory to Serve Students, Industry Partners Under One Roof - 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Make no mistake, the upcoming renovation will also transform what is, currently, a fairly nondescript-looking space into a state-of-the-art facility, with design plans calling for a concept lab, classrooms and sound-proof rooms necessary for confidential work, such as projects conducted in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Defense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Altogether, the facility is poised to offer the latest evidence of the entrepreneurial boom on the NC State\u2019s Centennial Campus, says Dean David Hinks, Wilson College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe mission of the new Flex Factory is to serve as a catalyst for students across NC State to create new, more sustainable textile-based products and businesses by having access to state-of-the-art equipment, expertise and mentorship,\u201d Hinks says. \u201cIt will augment the already outstanding entrepreneurship ecosystem already in place on Centennial Campus and across all colleges at NC State.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Looking forward<\/h3>\n\n\n\nMonths before the Flex Factory retrofit has begun, the early results are promising.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Prototype Lab already boasts a packed schedule, currently supporting more than a dozen projects. In many ways, West says, it\u2019s validated the $8 million in investment from donors and university contributions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a proving ground for us at this point,\u201d West says of the Prototype Lab. \u201cJust as much as it\u2019s a proving ground for the projects that we take in.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOf course, the finished Flex Factory will involve some hard hats and adjustments in the meantime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some work in the Prototype Lab will pause while the space undergoes its facelift in 2025 to make it more \u201ccutting edge\u201d and \u201crevolutionary,\u201d as West puts it \u2014 from the technical equipment itself to mezzanines and glass windows to make the space open and viewable to passersby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But for a college that has been around for 125 years, this innovative space appears to be a major step into the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe greatest thing about America is we\u2019re full of entrepreneurs. But you have to give them the space, and you have to give them the opportunities,\u201d West says. \u201cThat takes money and space. And that\u2019s what we\u2019re doing.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false,"raw":"\n\n\n\n\n
Walk into the Prototype Lab on the first floor of the Wilson College of Textiles on any given day, and you\u2019re sure to see a flurry of activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You could find a student working with a 3D printer, giving literal shape to a new product concept.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nearby, an entrepreneur might be researching the next concept they hope to someday bring to market, tapping into the facility\u2019s state-of-the-art sewing or bonding equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s really quite busy,\u201d remarks Andre West<\/a>, director of NC State\u2019s Zeis Textiles Extension<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But for all its early success since opening last summer, the Prototype Lab<\/a> is, in many ways, just getting started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A major renovation starts in 2025<\/h3>\n\n\n\nStarting in February 2025, construction crews will put hammer to nail on an innovative hub soon to be known as the Flex Factory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once complete, the 17,000 square foot space will marry the equipment and technical capabilities of the Prototype Lab with the Wilson College\u2019s Senior Design Lab, which today hosts seniors working on capstone projects in the Wilson College\u2019s textile engineering and textile technology programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Capable of hosting a diverse array of users and projects, the Flex Factory is seen as a hive for student researchers and entrepreneurs, each of whom will be able to leverage the expertise of Wilson College faculty and staff \u2014 and make use of the facility\u2019s state-of-the-art equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A look at the Senior Design Lab as it is currently configured. The space will ultimately be integrated into the Flex Factory. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u201cWe\u2019re going to be able to provide the space, and the programming, and programming support, for student innovation across campus,\u201d says Bailey Knight<\/a>, laboratory manager, noting that the facility will be an asset not just to the Wilson College \u2014 but also to those throughout the university.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How the Flex Factory will work<\/h3>\n\n\n\nEntrepreneurs interested in using the Flex Factory will be able to go online, fill out a form and explain what they\u2019d like to make. Then, West\u2019s team will follow up with the client with details on how the center might be able to help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Visitors to the Prototype Lab portion of the Flex Factory will be able to make use of the facility\u2019s yarn spinning, fabric cutting, sewing and printing capabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Critically, the facility will also offer users the chance to experiment using high-dollar equipment and tiny quantities of material \u2014 both key hurdles to early-stage product development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI think of this space as a stepping stone for the startups, or entrepreneurs, to move to the next stage without the huge cost of bearing all that equipment that needs to be bought,\u201d West explains. \u201cWe can do that with our skills, with our knowledge, with our teaching capacity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Student Kat Charrier at work in the Prototype Lab. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nMake no mistake, the upcoming renovation will also transform what is, currently, a fairly nondescript-looking space into a state-of-the-art facility, with design plans calling for a concept lab, classrooms and sound-proof rooms necessary for confidential work, such as projects conducted in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Defense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Altogether, the facility is poised to offer the latest evidence of the entrepreneurial boom on the NC State\u2019s Centennial Campus, says Dean David Hinks, Wilson College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe mission of the new Flex Factory is to serve as a catalyst for students across NC State to create new, more sustainable textile-based products and businesses by having access to state-of-the-art equipment, expertise and mentorship,\u201d Hinks says. \u201cIt will augment the already outstanding entrepreneurship ecosystem already in place on Centennial Campus and across all colleges at NC State.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Looking forward<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Months before the Flex Factory retrofit has begun, the early results are promising.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Prototype Lab already boasts a packed schedule, currently supporting more than a dozen projects. In many ways, West says, it\u2019s validated the $8 million in investment from donors and university contributions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a proving ground for us at this point,\u201d West says of the Prototype Lab. \u201cJust as much as it\u2019s a proving ground for the projects that we take in.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOf course, the finished Flex Factory will involve some hard hats and adjustments in the meantime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some work in the Prototype Lab will pause while the space undergoes its facelift in 2025 to make it more \u201ccutting edge\u201d and \u201crevolutionary,\u201d as West puts it \u2014 from the technical equipment itself to mezzanines and glass windows to make the space open and viewable to passersby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But for a college that has been around for 125 years, this innovative space appears to be a major step into the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe greatest thing about America is we\u2019re full of entrepreneurs. But you have to give them the space, and you have to give them the opportunities,\u201d West says. \u201cThat takes money and space. And that\u2019s what we\u2019re doing.\u201d<\/p>\n"},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Slated for construction in early 2025, this state-of-the-art facility will combine the Wilson College of Textiles Prototype Lab and the Senior Design Lab in one space.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":66147,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"source":"","ncst_custom_author":"Sean Cudahy","ncst_show_custom_author":true,"ncst_dynamicHeaderBlockName":"ncst\/default-post-header","ncst_dynamicHeaderData":"{\"displayCategoryID\":512,\"showAuthor\":true,\"showDate\":true,\"showFeaturedVideo\":false,\"subtitle\":\"Slated for construction in early 2025, this state-of-the-art facility will combine the Wilson College of Textiles Prototype Lab and the Senior Design Lab in one space.\u00a0\"}","ncst_content_audit_freq":"","ncst_content_audit_date":"","ncst_content_audit_display":false,"ncst_backToTopFlag":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[742,512,496,479],"tags":[1875,1143,1431,504,1382,898],"_ncst_magazine_issue":[],"class_list":["post-66146","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-newswire","category-research-and-innovation","category-tatm","category-tecs","tag-department-of-textile-and-apparel-technology-and-management","tag-department-of-textile-engineering-chemistry-and-science","tag-entrepreneurship","tag-research","tag-wilson-college-of-textiles","tag-zeis-textiles-extension"],"displayCategory":{"term_id":512,"name":"Research and Innovation","slug":"research-and-innovation","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":512,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":256,"filter":"raw"},"acf":{"ncst_posts_meta_modified_date":null},"yoast_head":"
Innovative Flex Factory to Serve Students, Industry Partners Under One Roof - Wilson College of Textiles<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/2024\/08\/innovative-flex-factory-to-serve-students-industry-partners-under-one-roof\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Innovative Flex Factory to Serve Students, Industry Partners Under One Roof - Wilson College of Textiles\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Slated for construction in early 2025, this state-of-the-art facility will combine the Wilson College of Textiles Prototype Lab and the Senior Design Lab in one space.\u00a0\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/2024\/08\/innovative-flex-factory-to-serve-students-industry-partners-under-one-roof\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Wilson College of Textiles\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-08-27T19:18:12+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-01-25T14:49:33+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/tex-cloud-cdn.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/textiles-ncsu\/20240827150053\/IMG_2099-3.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1500\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"844\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Wilson College Communications\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Wilson College Communications\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/2024\/08\/innovative-flex-factory-to-serve-students-industry-partners-under-one-roof\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/2024\/08\/innovative-flex-factory-to-serve-students-industry-partners-under-one-roof\/\",\"name\":\"Innovative Flex Factory to Serve Students, Industry Partners Under One Roof - Wilson College of Textiles\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/2024\/08\/innovative-flex-factory-to-serve-students-industry-partners-under-one-roof\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/2024\/08\/innovative-flex-factory-to-serve-students-industry-partners-under-one-roof\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/tex-cloud-cdn.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/textiles-ncsu\/20240827150053\/IMG_2099-3.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-08-27T19:18:12+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-01-25T14:49:33+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/#\/schema\/person\/10505fa89d5a697382b472f4eb881742\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/2024\/08\/innovative-flex-factory-to-serve-students-industry-partners-under-one-roof\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/2024\/08\/innovative-flex-factory-to-serve-students-industry-partners-under-one-roof\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/2024\/08\/innovative-flex-factory-to-serve-students-industry-partners-under-one-roof\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/tex-cloud-cdn.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/textiles-ncsu\/20240827150053\/IMG_2099-3.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/tex-cloud-cdn.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/textiles-ncsu\/20240827150053\/IMG_2099-3.jpg\",\"width\":1500,\"height\":844,\"caption\":\"Bailey Knight (left) and Andre West (right) stand in the Prototype Lab, discussing designs printed onto a tote bag. Bailey points at the fabric laid out on a large cutting table, which features several tote bags with colorful prints. 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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOf course, the finished Flex Factory will involve some hard hats and adjustments in the meantime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some work in the Prototype Lab will pause while the space undergoes its facelift in 2025 to make it more \u201ccutting edge\u201d and \u201crevolutionary,\u201d as West puts it \u2014 from the technical equipment itself to mezzanines and glass windows to make the space open and viewable to passersby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But for a college that has been around for 125 years, this innovative space appears to be a major step into the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe greatest thing about America is we\u2019re full of entrepreneurs. But you have to give them the space, and you have to give them the opportunities,\u201d West says. \u201cThat takes money and space. And that\u2019s what we\u2019re doing.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false,"raw":"\n\n\n\n\n
Walk into the Prototype Lab on the first floor of the Wilson College of Textiles on any given day, and you\u2019re sure to see a flurry of activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You could find a student working with a 3D printer, giving literal shape to a new product concept.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nearby, an entrepreneur might be researching the next concept they hope to someday bring to market, tapping into the facility\u2019s state-of-the-art sewing or bonding equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s really quite busy,\u201d remarks Andre West<\/a>, director of NC State\u2019s Zeis Textiles Extension<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But for all its early success since opening last summer, the Prototype Lab<\/a> is, in many ways, just getting started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A major renovation starts in 2025<\/h3>\n\n\n\nStarting in February 2025, construction crews will put hammer to nail on an innovative hub soon to be known as the Flex Factory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once complete, the 17,000 square foot space will marry the equipment and technical capabilities of the Prototype Lab with the Wilson College\u2019s Senior Design Lab, which today hosts seniors working on capstone projects in the Wilson College\u2019s textile engineering and textile technology programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Capable of hosting a diverse array of users and projects, the Flex Factory is seen as a hive for student researchers and entrepreneurs, each of whom will be able to leverage the expertise of Wilson College faculty and staff \u2014 and make use of the facility\u2019s state-of-the-art equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A look at the Senior Design Lab as it is currently configured. The space will ultimately be integrated into the Flex Factory. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u201cWe\u2019re going to be able to provide the space, and the programming, and programming support, for student innovation across campus,\u201d says Bailey Knight<\/a>, laboratory manager, noting that the facility will be an asset not just to the Wilson College \u2014 but also to those throughout the university.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How the Flex Factory will work<\/h3>\n\n\n\nEntrepreneurs interested in using the Flex Factory will be able to go online, fill out a form and explain what they\u2019d like to make. Then, West\u2019s team will follow up with the client with details on how the center might be able to help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Visitors to the Prototype Lab portion of the Flex Factory will be able to make use of the facility\u2019s yarn spinning, fabric cutting, sewing and printing capabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Critically, the facility will also offer users the chance to experiment using high-dollar equipment and tiny quantities of material \u2014 both key hurdles to early-stage product development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI think of this space as a stepping stone for the startups, or entrepreneurs, to move to the next stage without the huge cost of bearing all that equipment that needs to be bought,\u201d West explains. \u201cWe can do that with our skills, with our knowledge, with our teaching capacity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Student Kat Charrier at work in the Prototype Lab. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nMake no mistake, the upcoming renovation will also transform what is, currently, a fairly nondescript-looking space into a state-of-the-art facility, with design plans calling for a concept lab, classrooms and sound-proof rooms necessary for confidential work, such as projects conducted in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Defense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Altogether, the facility is poised to offer the latest evidence of the entrepreneurial boom on the NC State\u2019s Centennial Campus, says Dean David Hinks, Wilson College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe mission of the new Flex Factory is to serve as a catalyst for students across NC State to create new, more sustainable textile-based products and businesses by having access to state-of-the-art equipment, expertise and mentorship,\u201d Hinks says. \u201cIt will augment the already outstanding entrepreneurship ecosystem already in place on Centennial Campus and across all colleges at NC State.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Looking forward<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Months before the Flex Factory retrofit has begun, the early results are promising.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Prototype Lab already boasts a packed schedule, currently supporting more than a dozen projects. In many ways, West says, it\u2019s validated the $8 million in investment from donors and university contributions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a proving ground for us at this point,\u201d West says of the Prototype Lab. \u201cJust as much as it\u2019s a proving ground for the projects that we take in.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOf course, the finished Flex Factory will involve some hard hats and adjustments in the meantime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some work in the Prototype Lab will pause while the space undergoes its facelift in 2025 to make it more \u201ccutting edge\u201d and \u201crevolutionary,\u201d as West puts it \u2014 from the technical equipment itself to mezzanines and glass windows to make the space open and viewable to passersby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But for a college that has been around for 125 years, this innovative space appears to be a major step into the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe greatest thing about America is we\u2019re full of entrepreneurs. But you have to give them the space, and you have to give them the opportunities,\u201d West says. \u201cThat takes money and space. And that\u2019s what we\u2019re doing.\u201d<\/p>\n"},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Slated for construction in early 2025, this state-of-the-art facility will combine the Wilson College of Textiles Prototype Lab and the Senior Design Lab in one space.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":66147,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"source":"","ncst_custom_author":"Sean Cudahy","ncst_show_custom_author":true,"ncst_dynamicHeaderBlockName":"ncst\/default-post-header","ncst_dynamicHeaderData":"{\"displayCategoryID\":512,\"showAuthor\":true,\"showDate\":true,\"showFeaturedVideo\":false,\"subtitle\":\"Slated for construction in early 2025, this state-of-the-art facility will combine the Wilson College of Textiles Prototype Lab and the Senior Design Lab in one space.\u00a0\"}","ncst_content_audit_freq":"","ncst_content_audit_date":"","ncst_content_audit_display":false,"ncst_backToTopFlag":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[742,512,496,479],"tags":[1875,1143,1431,504,1382,898],"_ncst_magazine_issue":[],"class_list":["post-66146","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-newswire","category-research-and-innovation","category-tatm","category-tecs","tag-department-of-textile-and-apparel-technology-and-management","tag-department-of-textile-engineering-chemistry-and-science","tag-entrepreneurship","tag-research","tag-wilson-college-of-textiles","tag-zeis-textiles-extension"],"displayCategory":{"term_id":512,"name":"Research and Innovation","slug":"research-and-innovation","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":512,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":256,"filter":"raw"},"acf":{"ncst_posts_meta_modified_date":null},"yoast_head":"
Innovative Flex Factory to Serve Students, Industry Partners Under One Roof - Wilson College of Textiles<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/2024\/08\/innovative-flex-factory-to-serve-students-industry-partners-under-one-roof\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Innovative Flex Factory to Serve Students, Industry Partners Under One Roof - Wilson College of Textiles\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Slated for construction in early 2025, this state-of-the-art facility will combine the Wilson College of Textiles Prototype Lab and the Senior Design Lab in one space.\u00a0\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/2024\/08\/innovative-flex-factory-to-serve-students-industry-partners-under-one-roof\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Wilson College of Textiles\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-08-27T19:18:12+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-01-25T14:49:33+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/tex-cloud-cdn.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/textiles-ncsu\/20240827150053\/IMG_2099-3.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1500\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"844\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Wilson College Communications\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Wilson College Communications\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/2024\/08\/innovative-flex-factory-to-serve-students-industry-partners-under-one-roof\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/2024\/08\/innovative-flex-factory-to-serve-students-industry-partners-under-one-roof\/\",\"name\":\"Innovative Flex Factory to Serve Students, Industry Partners Under One Roof - Wilson College of Textiles\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/2024\/08\/innovative-flex-factory-to-serve-students-industry-partners-under-one-roof\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/2024\/08\/innovative-flex-factory-to-serve-students-industry-partners-under-one-roof\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/tex-cloud-cdn.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/textiles-ncsu\/20240827150053\/IMG_2099-3.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-08-27T19:18:12+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-01-25T14:49:33+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/#\/schema\/person\/10505fa89d5a697382b472f4eb881742\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/2024\/08\/innovative-flex-factory-to-serve-students-industry-partners-under-one-roof\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/2024\/08\/innovative-flex-factory-to-serve-students-industry-partners-under-one-roof\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/2024\/08\/innovative-flex-factory-to-serve-students-industry-partners-under-one-roof\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/tex-cloud-cdn.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/textiles-ncsu\/20240827150053\/IMG_2099-3.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/tex-cloud-cdn.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/textiles-ncsu\/20240827150053\/IMG_2099-3.jpg\",\"width\":1500,\"height\":844,\"caption\":\"Bailey Knight (left) and Andre West (right) stand in the Prototype Lab, discussing designs printed onto a tote bag. 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\u201cWe\u2019re going to be able to provide the space, and the programming, and programming support, for student innovation across campus,\u201d says Bailey Knight<\/a>, laboratory manager, noting that the facility will be an asset not just to the Wilson College \u2014 but also to those throughout the university.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How the Flex Factory will work<\/h3>\n\n\n\nEntrepreneurs interested in using the Flex Factory will be able to go online, fill out a form and explain what they\u2019d like to make. Then, West\u2019s team will follow up with the client with details on how the center might be able to help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Visitors to the Prototype Lab portion of the Flex Factory will be able to make use of the facility\u2019s yarn spinning, fabric cutting, sewing and printing capabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Critically, the facility will also offer users the chance to experiment using high-dollar equipment and tiny quantities of material \u2014 both key hurdles to early-stage product development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI think of this space as a stepping stone for the startups, or entrepreneurs, to move to the next stage without the huge cost of bearing all that equipment that needs to be bought,\u201d West explains. \u201cWe can do that with our skills, with our knowledge, with our teaching capacity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Student Kat Charrier at work in the Prototype Lab. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nMake no mistake, the upcoming renovation will also transform what is, currently, a fairly nondescript-looking space into a state-of-the-art facility, with design plans calling for a concept lab, classrooms and sound-proof rooms necessary for confidential work, such as projects conducted in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Defense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Altogether, the facility is poised to offer the latest evidence of the entrepreneurial boom on the NC State\u2019s Centennial Campus, says Dean David Hinks, Wilson College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe mission of the new Flex Factory is to serve as a catalyst for students across NC State to create new, more sustainable textile-based products and businesses by having access to state-of-the-art equipment, expertise and mentorship,\u201d Hinks says. \u201cIt will augment the already outstanding entrepreneurship ecosystem already in place on Centennial Campus and across all colleges at NC State.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Looking forward<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Months before the Flex Factory retrofit has begun, the early results are promising.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Prototype Lab already boasts a packed schedule, currently supporting more than a dozen projects. In many ways, West says, it\u2019s validated the $8 million in investment from donors and university contributions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a proving ground for us at this point,\u201d West says of the Prototype Lab. \u201cJust as much as it\u2019s a proving ground for the projects that we take in.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOf course, the finished Flex Factory will involve some hard hats and adjustments in the meantime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some work in the Prototype Lab will pause while the space undergoes its facelift in 2025 to make it more \u201ccutting edge\u201d and \u201crevolutionary,\u201d as West puts it \u2014 from the technical equipment itself to mezzanines and glass windows to make the space open and viewable to passersby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But for a college that has been around for 125 years, this innovative space appears to be a major step into the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe greatest thing about America is we\u2019re full of entrepreneurs. But you have to give them the space, and you have to give them the opportunities,\u201d West says. \u201cThat takes money and space. And that\u2019s what we\u2019re doing.\u201d<\/p>\n"},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Slated for construction in early 2025, this state-of-the-art facility will combine the Wilson College of Textiles Prototype Lab and the Senior Design Lab in one space.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":66147,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"source":"","ncst_custom_author":"Sean Cudahy","ncst_show_custom_author":true,"ncst_dynamicHeaderBlockName":"ncst\/default-post-header","ncst_dynamicHeaderData":"{\"displayCategoryID\":512,\"showAuthor\":true,\"showDate\":true,\"showFeaturedVideo\":false,\"subtitle\":\"Slated for construction in early 2025, this state-of-the-art facility will combine the Wilson College of Textiles Prototype Lab and the Senior Design Lab in one space.\u00a0\"}","ncst_content_audit_freq":"","ncst_content_audit_date":"","ncst_content_audit_display":false,"ncst_backToTopFlag":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[742,512,496,479],"tags":[1875,1143,1431,504,1382,898],"_ncst_magazine_issue":[],"class_list":["post-66146","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-newswire","category-research-and-innovation","category-tatm","category-tecs","tag-department-of-textile-and-apparel-technology-and-management","tag-department-of-textile-engineering-chemistry-and-science","tag-entrepreneurship","tag-research","tag-wilson-college-of-textiles","tag-zeis-textiles-extension"],"displayCategory":{"term_id":512,"name":"Research and Innovation","slug":"research-and-innovation","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":512,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":256,"filter":"raw"},"acf":{"ncst_posts_meta_modified_date":null},"yoast_head":"
Innovative Flex Factory to Serve Students, Industry Partners Under One Roof - Wilson College of Textiles<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/2024\/08\/innovative-flex-factory-to-serve-students-industry-partners-under-one-roof\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Innovative Flex Factory to Serve Students, Industry Partners Under One Roof - Wilson College of Textiles\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Slated for construction in early 2025, this state-of-the-art facility will combine the Wilson College of Textiles Prototype Lab and the Senior Design Lab in one space.\u00a0\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/2024\/08\/innovative-flex-factory-to-serve-students-industry-partners-under-one-roof\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Wilson College of Textiles\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-08-27T19:18:12+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-01-25T14:49:33+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/tex-cloud-cdn.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/textiles-ncsu\/20240827150053\/IMG_2099-3.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1500\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"844\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Wilson College Communications\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Wilson College Communications\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/2024\/08\/innovative-flex-factory-to-serve-students-industry-partners-under-one-roof\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/2024\/08\/innovative-flex-factory-to-serve-students-industry-partners-under-one-roof\/\",\"name\":\"Innovative Flex Factory to Serve Students, Industry Partners Under One Roof - Wilson College of Textiles\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/2024\/08\/innovative-flex-factory-to-serve-students-industry-partners-under-one-roof\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/2024\/08\/innovative-flex-factory-to-serve-students-industry-partners-under-one-roof\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/tex-cloud-cdn.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/textiles-ncsu\/20240827150053\/IMG_2099-3.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-08-27T19:18:12+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-01-25T14:49:33+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/#\/schema\/person\/10505fa89d5a697382b472f4eb881742\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/2024\/08\/innovative-flex-factory-to-serve-students-industry-partners-under-one-roof\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/2024\/08\/innovative-flex-factory-to-serve-students-industry-partners-under-one-roof\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/2024\/08\/innovative-flex-factory-to-serve-students-industry-partners-under-one-roof\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/tex-cloud-cdn.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/textiles-ncsu\/20240827150053\/IMG_2099-3.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/tex-cloud-cdn.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/textiles-ncsu\/20240827150053\/IMG_2099-3.jpg\",\"width\":1500,\"height\":844,\"caption\":\"Bailey Knight (left) and Andre West (right) stand in the Prototype Lab, discussing designs printed onto a tote bag. 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Make no mistake, the upcoming renovation will also transform what is, currently, a fairly nondescript-looking space into a state-of-the-art facility, with design plans calling for a concept lab, classrooms and sound-proof rooms necessary for confidential work, such as projects conducted in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Defense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Altogether, the facility is poised to offer the latest evidence of the entrepreneurial boom on the NC State\u2019s Centennial Campus, says Dean David Hinks, Wilson College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe mission of the new Flex Factory is to serve as a catalyst for students across NC State to create new, more sustainable textile-based products and businesses by having access to state-of-the-art equipment, expertise and mentorship,\u201d Hinks says. \u201cIt will augment the already outstanding entrepreneurship ecosystem already in place on Centennial Campus and across all colleges at NC State.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Looking forward<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Months before the Flex Factory retrofit has begun, the early results are promising.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Prototype Lab already boasts a packed schedule, currently supporting more than a dozen projects. In many ways, West says, it\u2019s validated the $8 million in investment from donors and university contributions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a proving ground for us at this point,\u201d West says of the Prototype Lab. \u201cJust as much as it\u2019s a proving ground for the projects that we take in.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOf course, the finished Flex Factory will involve some hard hats and adjustments in the meantime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some work in the Prototype Lab will pause while the space undergoes its facelift in 2025 to make it more \u201ccutting edge\u201d and \u201crevolutionary,\u201d as West puts it \u2014 from the technical equipment itself to mezzanines and glass windows to make the space open and viewable to passersby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But for a college that has been around for 125 years, this innovative space appears to be a major step into the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe greatest thing about America is we\u2019re full of entrepreneurs. But you have to give them the space, and you have to give them the opportunities,\u201d West says. \u201cThat takes money and space. And that\u2019s what we\u2019re doing.\u201d<\/p>\n"},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Slated for construction in early 2025, this state-of-the-art facility will combine the Wilson College of Textiles Prototype Lab and the Senior Design Lab in one space.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":66147,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"source":"","ncst_custom_author":"Sean Cudahy","ncst_show_custom_author":true,"ncst_dynamicHeaderBlockName":"ncst\/default-post-header","ncst_dynamicHeaderData":"{\"displayCategoryID\":512,\"showAuthor\":true,\"showDate\":true,\"showFeaturedVideo\":false,\"subtitle\":\"Slated for construction in early 2025, this state-of-the-art facility will combine the Wilson College of Textiles Prototype Lab and the Senior Design Lab in one space.\u00a0\"}","ncst_content_audit_freq":"","ncst_content_audit_date":"","ncst_content_audit_display":false,"ncst_backToTopFlag":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[742,512,496,479],"tags":[1875,1143,1431,504,1382,898],"_ncst_magazine_issue":[],"class_list":["post-66146","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-newswire","category-research-and-innovation","category-tatm","category-tecs","tag-department-of-textile-and-apparel-technology-and-management","tag-department-of-textile-engineering-chemistry-and-science","tag-entrepreneurship","tag-research","tag-wilson-college-of-textiles","tag-zeis-textiles-extension"],"displayCategory":{"term_id":512,"name":"Research and Innovation","slug":"research-and-innovation","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":512,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":256,"filter":"raw"},"acf":{"ncst_posts_meta_modified_date":null},"yoast_head":"