The Engine of Creation

Founder - Inventionland

The Dream Factory: Inventionland

Inventionland is a highly engineered, 60,000-square-foot immersive work environment designed to maximize creative output and accelerate product development. Founded in 2006, this “idea factory” is not merely a whimsical office but a strategic asset, featuring 16 uniquely themed sets—including a pirate ship, a castle, and a giant robot—that serve to inspire a diverse team of designers, artists, engineers, and fabricators.

Attracting approximately 15,000 visitors annually, Inventionland has garnered worldwide acclaim for its innovative approach to fostering creativity and innovation. Features in Ripley’s validate its legitimacy as a pioneering workspace. Believe It or Not!, which hailed it as an “unbelievable office space,” and I.D. Magazine, which named it one of “40 Amazing-Looking Design Offices.” The facility also received the inaugural CRIB Award from the Pittsburgh Technology Council, recognizing it as a model for creative and productive work environments. Products designed within its walls have been featured in publications from the Industrial Designers Society of America, and the facility itself was the subject of a History Channel special, cementing its status as a globally recognized hub of creativity.

Awards and Recognition

Recipient/Product/Individual Award/Recognition Awarding Organizaiton/Source
Inventionland Facility Creative Rooms in Business (CRIB) Award Pittsburgh Technology Council (DATA Awards)
Inventionland Facility Steel Heart Award (Nomination) The KEYGroup
Inventionland Facility Feature / Recognition Ripley's Believe It or Not! ("The Remarkable Revealed")
Inventionland Facility "40 Amazing-Looking Design Offices" I.D. Magazine

Building the Future: Award-Winning Innovation Labs

The Innovation Labs initiative translates the creative philosophy of Inventionland into educational environments. These are not just decorated classrooms; they are “crucibles of creativity” designed in partnership with school districts to foster hands-on, project-based learning. Each lab is a customized space, tailored to the specific needs of students and teachers, transforming traditional learning environments into hubs of innovation and creativity.

The profound impact of this concept has been recognized at the highest levels of design and education. In the 2017-2018 academic year, the labs received a prestigious Edison Design Award, marking the first time an educational space had won the award in the competition’s history. This was followed by accolades, including the Outstanding Project Award from Learning By Design Magazine in 2023, for the labs implemented at Berkshire Local Schools. Testimonials from educational leaders, such as Dr. Sean McCarty of the Seneca Valley School District, praise the partnership for creating remarkable opportunities for students to lead and innovate, providing on-the-ground validation of the program’s transformative power.

Awards and Recognition

Recipient/Product/Individual Award/Recognition Awarding Organizaiton/Source
Innovation Labs® Edison Award Edison Awards
Innovation Labs® (Berkshire Local Schools) Project of Distinction Award Spaces4Learning
STEM Innovation Labs®(Berkshire Local Schools) Outstanding Project Award Learning by Design