Lightweight Innovations for Tomorrow (LIFT) is a public-private partnership committed to the development and distribution of advanced lightweight metal manufacturing technologies—and to educating and training the skilled workers needed to implement them. Through its structured workforce development program, LIFT not only establishes a direct talent supply pipeline for its manufacturing partners, but also creates—and fills— jobs, placing highly-trained specialists in maintenance facilities and factories around the country.

In our work with LIFT, we organized our design approach around three core priorities: strengthening key external partnerships, accelerating the transfer of new technologies from laboratory to production floor, and increasing opportunities to learn, engage and share knowledge.

Designed to maximize chance encounters, foster a culture of collaboration and innovation and facilitate teaching and learning, the resulting renovation supports every aspect of LIFT’s work and mission.