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| Pumping Station: One | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Motto | JFDI |
| Formation | April 2009 |
| Purpose | Hacking, DIY, Lvl1 in Louisville, Milwaukee makerspace, I3, Familab, Fubar, NYC Resistor, South Side Hackerspace |
| Location | Chicago, Illinois, United States |
| Coordinates | 41°56.7191′N 87°42.3977′W |
| Origin | Chicago |
| Founders | Founding Members |
| Affiliations | Noisebridge, HacDC |
| Website | PumpingStationOne.org |
Pumping Station: One (also known as PS:One or PS1) is a hackerspace located in the Avondale neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 2009, it is Chicago's oldest hackerspace[1] and operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with approximately 700 members. The organization provides members with 24/7 access to workshop space and equipment for technology, manufacturing, and artistic projects.
History
Founding (2007–2009)
The origins of Pumping Station: One trace back to 2007, when several of its founding members attended the Chaos Communication Camp in Germany. While in Europe, they toured several established hackerspaces and attended the "Building a Hacker Space" talk at the 24th Chaos Communication Congress in December 2007. Inspired by the European hackerspace model and emerging American spaces such as NYC Resistor and Noisebridge (both founded in 2007), the group returned to Chicago determined to create the city's first hackerspace.
Throughout 2008, founding members held weekly planning meetings at the Mercury Cafe and in members' homes to develop the organization's structure and mission. The group formally incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in January 2009 and signed the lease for their first location at 3354 N. Elston Avenue in April 2009.
The organization's name and logo reference the historic Chicago Avenue Pumping Station, a landmark that survived the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.
Early growth (2009–2012)
In 2010, the space received brief national attention when NPR featured a PS:One member's treadmill-powered ice cream maker project in a segment on hackerspaces.[2]
A 2012 Chicago Tribune profile described the space as having "sewing machines, welding torches, a lathe" and various other equipment, with members including software developers, engineers, and artists.[3] The article profiled founding members Jim Burke and Lindsay Oliver, noting the organization's mission to provide access to tools and foster a community of makers.[3]
Expansion and facility growth (2013–2015)
By 2013, Pumping Station: One operated a two-floor facility featuring a welding area, metal lathes, woodworking equipment, a scanning electron microscope, sewing machines, vinyl cutters, 3D printers, and electronics workshops.[4] At that time, the organization was expanding its space to accommodate growing membership.[4]
In mid-2013, PS:One relocated to a larger facility at 3519 N. Elston Avenue. By November 2015, membership had grown to approximately 400 members.[5] In December 2015, the organization negotiated to rent the second half of the building, doubling its available space.
Building ownership (2025)
In January 2025, Pumping Station: One launched a public fundraising campaign to purchase its building at 3519 N. Elston Avenue from its landlord.[1] The campaign sought to raise $300,000 for a down payment on the $1.3 million property.[1] By this time, membership had grown to over 700 members.[1] The organization successfully navigated the COVID-19 pandemic by pivoting to virtual classes and participating in community mask-making efforts.[1]
On December 2, 2025, Pumping Station: One successfully closed on the building purchase, becoming one of the few hackerspaces in the United States to own its facility outright.
Facilities and equipment
Pumping Station: One operates in an 11,000-square-foot facility spanning two floors. The space includes specialized areas for various disciplines:
- Metalworking area: Featuring welding equipment, metal lathes, a metal brake, and a vertical mill
- Woodworking shop: Including a large-format CNC router, table saws, and hand tools
- Electronics and robotics lab: With soldering stations, oscilloscopes, and prototyping equipment
- Fiber arts area: Containing sewing machines, sergers, and textile tools
- Digital fabrication: Including multiple 3D printers, a 150-watt laser cutter, and vinyl cutters
- General workspace: Featuring a lounge area, meeting spaces, and hot-desking areas
Notable equipment includes a functioning scanning electron microscope, acquired through member contributions and donations.
Notable projects and initiatives
Power Racing Series
In 2009, PS:One member Jim Burke founded the Power Racing Series (PPPRS), a racing competition where teams modify children's electric ride-on toys into racing vehicles with a $500 budget limit.[6] The inaugural 2009 season consisted of six cars, all from Pumping Station: One members, racing in a dirt lot owned by the hackerspace's landlord.[6]
The series expanded to become a national competition held at Maker Faire events across the United States, with teams from multiple hackerspaces competing.[7] Burke, who served as a director at Pumping Station: One, designed the series to encourage both mechanical engineering and "social engineering" by rewarding teams for entertaining the crowd.[6] The Power Racing Series has been featured in Make Magazine, including a cover story in Volume 33 (January 2013).
Organization and governance
Pumping Station: One operates as a member-run organization with no employees. All leadership positions, area maintenance, and organizational tasks are performed by volunteers from the membership. The organization is governed by an elected board of directors and follows a democratic decision-making process for major initiatives.
Members pay monthly dues that fund facility operations, equipment purchases, and maintenance. The organization emphasizes two core values: "Be Excellent to Each Other" (adapted from the film Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure) and "JFDI" (Just Fucking Do It), encouraging members to take initiative on projects and improvements.
Community engagement
Pumping Station: One offers regular educational programs open to both members and the public, including workshops on electronics, programming, woodworking, metalworking, and various crafts. The organization hosts weekly open houses every Tuesday at 8:00 PM for prospective members and visitors.
PS:One has collaborated with educational institutions including DePaul University for field trips and maker education programs. The organization also partners with the Chicago Public Library system's Maker Lab initiatives.
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Template:Cite news
- ↑ Template:Cite news
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Template:Cite news
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Benchoff, Brian(October 16, 2013)."Tour Of Chicago Hackerspace: Pumping Station One".Hackaday.
- ↑ Template:Cite news
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 (May 13, 2014)."The P-P-Power Racing Series Is Coming to Town".Make: Magazine.
- ↑ (July 26, 2011)."Hackerspace Happenings: Power Racing Series Gears Up for Maker Faire".Make: Magazine.
External links
References
External links
{{Hackerspace}}
[[Category:Hacker groups]]
[[Category:Computer clubs]]
[[Category:Hackerspaces]]
