CSUB celebrates opening of new outdoor makerspace

Chevron-funded structure gives engineering students more space to work on projects

By California State University, Bakersfield

March 28^th, 2025

Engineering students can now take advantage of a new space on campus that gives them more room to work on and test their projects.

California State University, Bakersfield held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday to celebrate the completion of its new outdoor makerspace, which is located behind the Engineering Complex.

The facility was funded by previous gifts from Chevron, CSUB’s largest corporate donor, which has provided more than $16 million in support for the university since 1990. That number includes a new $600,000 gift for the 2024-25 academic year that was announced on Thursday.

“We are gathered here today to usher in a new era of opportunity for our STEM students thanks to the new Chevron makerspace,” said President Dr. Vernon B. Harper Jr. “For the first time, our engineering students will have all the space they need to take their most ambitious projects from conception to completion. To our friends at Chevron, what can we say but ‘Thank you.’”

The makerspace provides space that students can use for their projects, including woodworking, metalworking, installation and energy research. It also offers space for vehicle, robotic and drone testing.

The structure provides increased capacity for the university’s Fab Lab, a digital fabrication space that provides access to 3-D printers, laser cutters and other equipment to students and the public. The project was publicly announced during an on-campus groundbreaking event in summer 2023 that celebrated Chevron’s longtime partnership with CSUB.

“It is really good that we are providing the support for students to learn the skills that I know will benefit them in the future. These are the people who create, who will innovate, who will lead the future and leave the world a better place than it is today,” said Vice President of Chevron’s San Joaquin Valley Business Unit Alan Pitts. “When we can provide support for CSUB, they can turn that into facilities like this and ultimately turn that over to young people who are going to make a difference to the world. It’s a real pleasure that we can be part of that.”

During Thursday’s ceremony, CSUB celebrated Chevron’s gift of $600,000 for this academic year, which has gone toward initiatives such as purchasing new laptops and other equipment for the Fab Lab, funding the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience program, community outreach efforts and supporting STEM-related student affinity groups and clubs.

The gift is also funding a new year-long field practice externship for six public health majors, which Dr. Harper said will “make them career-ready to serve our fellow residents here in the community.”

Bakersfield Mayor Karen Goh thanked Chevron for their continuing support of the university and the Kern County community.

“Your ongoing gift for all these years is clearly demonstrating your belief and commitment in the Chevron Way; human ingenuity can overcome any obstacle. By your investment in CSUB, in this makerspace, you are making human ingenuity possible,” she said. “This can be the place where our makers are going to create things we have never imagined. We are so grateful that indeed you live out your mission by investing right here in education, right here in the future of our community.”

'Chevron has given us many opportunities'

Electrical engineering major William Lazaro attended Thursday’s ceremony and said he’s looking forward to using the new makerspace.

“I’m grateful that we’re expanding the Fab Lab. Having this space gives us more room to be able to develop a project,” he said. “I’m excited to use the space for soldering. That’s something I’m very interested in trying to learn, and this seems like a good opportunity to try it.”

Lazaro is a member of CSUB’s Robotics Club. In the past, he said it’s been difficult to have club meetings in the Fab Lab due to its limited space. That has sometimes led the club to having to meet elsewhere on campus or split members into groups, of which only one of them is able to stay in the lab.

“We all want to work in there, because that’s where all the equipment is, but sometimes we’re kind of forced to go elsewhere,” he said.

Now that the makerspace has been completed, Lazaro hopes the club will begin meeting there instead so that everyone can stay together.

“I think meeting out here would be great, and we’d still be close to the Fab Lab. I think that would give us more of a sense of belongingness when we’re here,” he said.

Fellow electrical engineering major Olivia Arias is also excited about the new facility. She is also a member of the Robotics Club and is involved in the CSUB chapters of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

“I feel really grateful for this space where we can all connect and work on stuff together. With IEEE, we’re really interested in creating some workshops around soldering, so I think that would be a great opportunity for us,” she said. “Chevron has given us many opportunities. Seeing how they’re providing for us on campus is great.”

Lazaro is also thankful for the company’s support and how it has helped CSUB grow the Engineering Department.

“A lot of our buildings that we have are shared with other classes and majors, so getting more opportunities to be more hands-on with our projects allows us to further develop our skills. That’s something I’m really grateful we’re able to experience with Chevron’s help,” he said.

Pitts said he’s appreciative of how CSUB has used the funding it has received from Chevron to support STEM students. He hopes the company’s relationship with the university will stay strong long into the future.

“Our partnership with CSUB continues to be a very important part of our community engagement so we can improve the lives of as many people as we can,” he said. “It’s really pleasing to see the use that has been put to. It has been used by people who have a very similar vision and values as ourselves, so we thank the university for doing that. It really makes us proud to be part of this great institution.”