Circus Space Design Patterns

This is inspired by Hackerspace Design Patterns, a talk which was central to the development of Hackerspaces in the united states.

Recommended Reading: Hackerspaces: The Beginning

Sustainability and Independence

Critical Mass

The rule of thumb is 2 + 2. You need a partner to get the initial idea kicked off, making two of you. You need two more people in order to get real work done. Don’t start before you are at least four people. From this point it’s easy to recruit more people. Aim for ten people for a start.

Anti-Pattern: Roommates

You need a space for meetings and as a lab, to store and work on materials for projects. In order to minimize rent or out of sympathy, you think it’s great when someone lives in your space. But somehow it doesn’t work, as you cannot use the lab anymore.

Guest are fine, but don’t let anyone live there. Kick them out if necessary.

Ownership

Many organizations have had the rug pulled out from under them when a landlord suddenly raised the rent or decided to sell the property.

As much as possible the group should own, not rent, its space and equipment.

Funding

Groups that rely on external funding such as grants or selling classes to the public can sometimes lose sight of their goals.

Aim to have base costs covered by membership dues and use grant money or other income towards growth and improvement.

Growth

Openness

You want to draw in new people and provide an interface to the outside world.

Have a monthly, public, and open lecture, talk or workshop.

Expertise

The people in the group may not have the expertise needed, but the local experts on the topic are jerks.

Hire experts from outside to teach the group and consult with them as needed. It is easier to teach a person to become an expert than it is to teach someone to stop being an asshole.

Safety

This Is A Dangerous Sport

People can and will get hurt. If people are not well informed about the risks involved it creates a dangerous situation for everyone.

Require basic safety training for everyone and offer it regularly.

Differing Opinions

Sometimes people from different backgrounds disagree on what is correct or safe. They may refuse to do something the way everyone else is doing it because they find it unnecessary or unsafe.

Rely on data, not tradition, to set safety practices. Get everyone on the same page by having everyone attend the same safety classes when onboarding. If someone who is very knowledgeable disagrees with the contents of the class then it is necessary to sit down and determine what the best answer is for the organization. In matters of simple differences of opinion default to the existing policy. If the policy is out of date or incorrect update it and let everyone know about the change.