Open science finds new home south of Market

“'The Bay Area is overflowing with money and incubators for startups. We want to provide something different — a home for ideas, projects, and people that don't fit into other places,' says Manylabs founder Peter Sand. The educational non-profit opened their new open science workspace, on Folsom Street near 7th Street, in March. It’s a three-floor, 5,400-square-foot industrial building that was once headquarters for the Columbia Elevator Company. The building rent is largely paid by a generous grant from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. The first floor has been transformed into a flexible meeting and exhibition area. The second floor workshop provides lab benches, tools, an inventory of electronics parts and other prototyping materials, and a growing collection of scientific apparatus. The top floor is a sunny open office that encourages casual run-ins among residents and visitors. Even the rooftop is getting use as a sensor test range. The core of the enterprise is the Scientist in Residence program. If accepted, applicants receive a six-month renewable position, along with a small materials stipend, a desk, use of the workshop and other facilities. They also get help writing and applying for grants that will fund their work ..."