How to find us
The Education Commons is located in the George A. Weiss Pavilion next to Franklin Field. Here's how to get here and what to know before you visit.
Education Commons
Today's Hours:
9am - 8pm | Library Hours
Phone:
Email:
Location:
George A. Weiss Pavilion, Mezzanine
Franklin Field, 233 South 33rd Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
| Directions
The Education Commons is open to the Penn community and is home to a makerspace, crafting space, and reservable study spaces and seminar rooms.
Keep up with us
Access
Note that access to the Education Commons is restricted to members of the Penn community with a valid PennCard.
Reserve a space
Check out the group study rooms, booths, and classrooms you can book in the Education Commons.
Use Specialized Equipment
At the Education Commons, students, faculty, and staff can use our specialized equipment for academic and personal projects alike!
To use the following tools, fill out our consultation form.
- Arduinos
- Basic art supplies
- Laminator
- Paper cutter/trimmer
- Makey Makey Kits
- Sewing machine
- Vacuum former
- Vinyl cutter
To use the following tools, complete one of our training workshops.
- 3D printer
- Metal and jewelry tools
- Hydraulic press
- Rolling mill
Upcoming Workshops
List
- Workshop
September 17, 2026
Sewing Machine 101
A beginner-friendly, hands-on sewing workshop where students learn essential machine operation, fabric selection, pattern reading, and troubleshooting while completing their own sewing project.
- 2:00pm - 4:00pm
- Education Commons Makerspace
Open to Penn Students Only
- Workshop
September 21, 2026
Intro to Metals and Jewelry: Trays
A beginner-friendly, hands-on metals and jewelry workshop where students learn essential metalworking safety and techniques using a hydraulic press, rotary tool, and specialty dies to create a custom embossed metal tray.
- 2:00pm - 4:00pm
- Education Commons Makerspace
Open to Penn Students Only
- Workshop
September 22, 2026
Code Your Own Local Small Language Model for AI
A hands-on workshop where participants learn to build and run open-source AI models locally on everyday hardware while exploring AI infrastructure, privacy, ethics, environmental impacts, and minimal computing practices.
- 3:00pm - 4:30pm
- Research Data and Digital Scholarship Exchange (RDDSx), Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center, First Floor
Open to Penn Students, Faculty, and Staff
Work with Us
Consultations and Instruction
Fill out our consultation form to arrange support for workshops, class collaborations, events, and makerspace activities — including access to emerging technologies and multimedia tools— for academic and personal projects.
Fill out our formFellowship opportunities
We are currently recruiting for the Hoesley Digital Literacy Fellowship. This program encourages creative exploration of technologies commonly used in our rapidly evolving 21st century workplace and beyond.
Learn more and applyBlog: Beyond Books and Screens
List
Over the past year, the Learning Enrichment team has explored a variety of ways AI can support teaching, learning, making, and creative work at Penn. Through workshops, consultations, and collaborative projects, we've focused on helping students and faculty use AI tools thoughtfully and transparently.
2026 and Me: What I am looking forward to (Services, equipment, technology, themes, programs, skills, our spaces) in the coming year and where to learn more.
Meet Our Staff
List
Tex Kang
Program Coordinator for Technology and Play texkang@upenn.edu
Christine Kemp
Program Coordinator of Technology and Play ckemp@upenn.eduLocation and Accessibility
Accessibility
Accessible entry to the Fox Fitness Center and the Education Commons is available on grade and up one floor by elevator, to the mezzanine.
Diagram shows the accessible entrance.
