Nova Labs

When the Town of Vienna Youth Players needed a custom cityscape backdrop for their summer production of Guys & Dolls, Nova Labs members and volunteers stepped up. Using Big Blue, our large-format CNC router, the team transformed twelve sheets of plywood into a glowing Broadway-inspired skyline.

Our first week of Summer Camp is in the books! From 3D printing and laser cutting to resin art, soldering, and cardboard engineering, campers explored the Nova Labs makerspace while creating projects that showcased their creativity and new skills.

Nova Labs is proud to congratulate Mary Thompson, Director of our FIRST Robotics program, on being recognized with the She Leads FIRST Women in STEM Award at the 2026 FIRST Chesapeake District Championship.

Nova Labs is bringing makers to the Fairfax Funky Flea! Visit our shared booth on the last Saturday of each month to shop handmade goods from local makers, meet members of the Nova Labs community, and learn more about our makerspace.

Nova Labs Kinetic Sculpture Team (NLKST) captured the highest honor at the Baltimore Kinetic Sculpture Race, earning the title of Grand East Coast National Mediocre Champion for its outstanding performance aboard Meep Meep and Meyond, a human-powered amphibious vehicle that impressed judges and charmed spectators during the day-long event.

What happens when a public artist shifts focus from transforming city spaces to creating moments of quiet reflection? Nova Labs resident maker Tamao Nakayama shares her journey back to her Japanese roots, preserving traditional arts through hands-on workshops, cultural experiences, and the launch of her new venture, Tamao Atelier.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, the Nova Labs Capital Campaign has officially closed at $114,851, surpassing our $100,000 goal and unlocking an additional $15,000 matching grant. Together, we are making important improvements to our shared makerspace and investing in Nova Labs' future.

Four or so years ago when my father passed away, Christopher Sexton, woodshop steward and maker of fine dovetailed boxes (I think he’s made upwards of 60 of them), invited me to do some woodworking. He suggested it might be a good way to process things. Something inside me said "Great idea! I want to build an electric guitar!" Always with a gentle voice, he suggested maybe we start with a few other things first. Maybe learn a few things. Ok, Ok. So, with his help: I made a guitar stand Then a...

Announcing the release of the 2025 Annual Report. It was year of both impact and opportunity at Nova Labs. Once again, the kindness, generosity, and resilience of our members and affiliates shone through. We continue to be deeply grateful for — and inspired by — this community.

Chris Sexton is on a mission to craft 100 dovetail boxes, one carefully fitted corner at a time. As a volunteer Wood Shop Steward at Nova Labs, Chris helps care for the shop while supporting our ever-growing community of woodworkers.