What it is
Nova Labs is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community makerspace at 3850 Jermantown Rd in Fairfax, Virginia. Members share access to woodworking, metalworking, machining and other fabrication and technology equipment for making and prototyping. According to local press coverage, Nova Labs began in Reston in 2011, moved to Fairfax City in 2022, and now occupies a 27,000 square foot facility.
What it offers founders
For hardware and product founders, Nova Labs is a lower cost way to build early prototypes without buying equipment or leasing a shop. Membership includes access to the shared space and machinery, training on tools, and an online community for discussion and help. Hands-on classes cover woodworking, metalworking, sewing, fiber arts, jewelry, leather and stained glass, and a Woodworking Boot Camp is offered for people who want a structured start.
The Innovation Center is a separate track for entrepreneurs and professional makers, with its own application. Press coverage from 2023 describes it as having 10 offices and about 20 members building businesses, with outside experts such as patent attorneys and funding advisors brought in to help members get a first product built. Nova Labs also lists an Entrepreneur in Residence program run with Seed Technologies.
Membership and pricing
- Weekday, $60 per month: weekday access from 8am to 4pm, except for hosted events and classes.
- Associate, $75 per month: weekday evenings 5pm to 10pm and weekends 12pm to 5pm, plus community help sessions.
- Key or Family, $125 per month: 24/7 access. New members join as Weekday or Associate first and upgrade to Key after meeting approval requirements, which include getting to know the space and volunteering.
- Innovation Center: application based, for entrepreneurs and professional makers. Pricing is not listed online.
After applying on the membership page, new members receive an approval email with steps to complete within 30 days, including the GO: New Member Orientation class. Returning members who have been away for 12 months also retake GO. You can browse upcoming sessions on the classes and events calendar or book a tour before joining.
How to engage
Start with a tour or a single class to see whether the tools match your project. If you plan to prototype regularly, a Weekday or Associate membership is the entry point, and Key membership follows once you are approved. Founders building a product company should ask about the Innovation Center application. Contact Nova Labs at 703-437-5780 or support@nova-labs.org. Nova Labs also runs youth programming.
Why it matters in the DMV ecosystem
Physical prototyping space is scarce and expensive in Northern Virginia. Nova Labs gives Fairfax area founders, students and career changers a community-run place to build, learn tools and meet other makers, with a dedicated path for those turning projects into companies.
