The Dorothy Lumley Melrose Center

What an incredible resource in this beautiful city. There’s a flight simulator, there is photography and video equipment and so much more!

Wow– This is seriously one of the coolest places in town!
For what? Well, the Melrose Center (MC) houses audio, visual, photo, simulation, 3D printing, tech work spaces, and so much more.
I took a tour today of the center after having heard tons of buzz (and being a bit embarrassed to say that I hadn’t visited it yet. I looked online and realized that they hold orientations and tours daily– and today they were at 2pm. I was right on time (parked right across the street in the lot on Central) and met Ben at the desk.
We started with one of the classroom spaces that has some great simulation gear, but he then led me to the Simulation Lab, a room with crazy-​cool driving, flight, and construction vehicle simulators! We’re talking multi-​screen seating with all of the controls you’d use in those real machines. VERY good start!
We walked over to a section of the MC, called Tech Central, which was set up with presentation seating. They have a drop down screen and projector connected to an iPad for this area and they don’t charge you to use it and hold meetings (you have to schedule it ahead of time though). I was geeking out hard core when we went by the various workspaces around the center. It’s mostly open-​plan with movable desks and spaces that you can adjust as your group needs. They had brand new MacPros with dual screens that anyone can use (with all of the Adobe and creative suites you can think of).
Then came the real crazy stuff. An audio production studio; video production studio; sound boxes for recording podcasts, voice overs, your pretty voice, etc; photo studio with light boxes for photographing products; editing bays; conference room; etc. HOLY FREAKING MOLEY. The photo studio and Sound Booths can be reserved for FREE for 2 hours a day, any 3 days a week and the audio and video studios can be booked for 4 hours a day, 3 days a week. That means that we all have full access to professional studios and equipment for between 6 and 12 hours a week for free.
I’m kind of freaking out right now, guys.
If you have some time, take a walk over to the Melrose Center and check out the space. You will likely see me as I will be working from there at least twice a week from now on! ~sigh~ Places like this remind me why I love this city!