JuWilCu is a young design-build group composed of local designers JUwariya Abdul-Karim, Gabe Williams and Carlos CUlly.  Their focus on construction projects that address socioeconomic and environmental issues led them to become collaborators with us during the pilot phase of our fab lab initiative.  JuWilCu has been able to help demonstrate the potential for creating “green-collar” entrepreneurship and job training opportunities with the use of computer controlled (CNC) machining equipment.

A recent project they completed with the use of the ShopBot CNC router available in our facilities was the construction of a collapsible and portable street vending system, built from salvaged construction materials found at a supplier called Built It Green NYC.  The project was able to emphasize many of the core values of both SSBx and JuWilCu:  “upcycling” waste streams into products that have value, and the promotion of micro-enterprise. 

Customized, rapid protoyped vending systems can be of enormous value to street vendors and other small-scale merchants. 

The photos and video in this post show the system being used at the Dance Africa Street Festival. Aside from his involvement in JuWilCu, Carlos Cully is also involved in a small-scale fashion venture called YaKBlak, that collects and refurbishes vintage sunglasses and fashion accessories, adding value to what would otherwise be a waste stream. Click here to download the design portfolio for this project.

 The video embedded below highlights the project in more detail: 

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This past week we moved the trailer from The Point CDC down the road to the Jose E. Serrano Riverside Campus for Arts and the Environment, next to Hunts Point Riverside Park.  At the site we share space with a community boat building program called Rocking the Boat, which has done outstanding work in the Bronx over the past 10 years with hands-on boat building programs for youth. We’re excited about exploring possibilities for collaboration while we remain in the trailer during Phase 1 of SSBxFab and beyond.  Developing both small and large kits and projects that involve boats will be helpful for us as we develop outreach programs for SSBxFab, and could potentially help Rocking the Boat incorporate CNC (Computer Numerically Controlled) Technology in some of their program areas.

The ShopBot CNC wood router we have in the trailer was originally designed by the manufacturers as a tool for Boat Building.

Below are some of the boats on-site that were built by Rocking the Boat students and staff.  We’re looking to forward to seeing how our machines can assist with their ongoing work.

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