Within the walls of the lower level of Founders Memorial Library is a space reserved for innovation and opportunity. 71 North is a studio space that can be used as a resource for students interested in collaboration and entrepreneurship by providing opportunities to participate in a variety of clubs, activities and projects.

71 North brings people together from different journeys. Federico Bassetti, assistant director of innovation ecosystem development, said the relationships people make are important to the studio’s goals.

“You could think of this as a third place, as a community space. It’s really to bring people together. They are on the same journey, even though they go at it in a, you know, different way,” Bassetti said. “We have people that really understand innovation, but at the building block level, it’s really about collaboration. It’s about relationship building to problem solve or even improve something.”

The partnership studio also serves as a “brain gym” for students who want to come together for a project or try something new. Brandon Goff has been around since the studio’s birth. As a data analytics graduate student and studio member, he reflected on his time in Innovation Club.

“I never intended to really join Innovation Club, but I sort of turned this into my brain gym,” Goff said. “I would just come here after work. Sometimes I wouldn’t even know what’s going on, but I would show up, being like ‘all right I’m going to the studio, and I’m going to find something going on and join in.’ That’s probably the best mentality someone could have the first time they walk in here.”

Being in the studio is a chance to get involved in things that someone may not originally consider, Goff said.

“There’s a ton of things that I never thought I would learn how to do or get exposure to just by being a part of what’s going on here,” Goff said.

The space also provides opportunity for undergraduate students to work with higher-level academics and researchers prior to joining a graduate program.

“We just started working with a program that’s hosted by the Computing Research Association called UR2PhD and it’s a program to help get undergraduates more involved in research,” Goff said. “Research Rookies is another one, we worked a lot with them.”

Adam Bougher, graduate assistant for the Office of Innovation, said the experience someone gains from the studio can help their resumes for future endeavors.

“If you want something to stand up on your resume, come on down. We try to have relevant experience so that you can put it on your resume,” Bougher said.

Another side of the innovation studio is the Huskieverse. The program focuses on the realm of virtual or extended reality. Bougher said they have many goals for the Huskieverse.

“There is at least eight other XR, extended reality, related projects in Huskieverse that we’re just kind of waiting for the right person,” Bougher said. “I know later down the line, we kind of started with it, but we weren’t able to continue with the one research work you got on, trying to make the VR helmet, see what we can make, retrofit, or eventually if we want to try to make our own.”

Bougher said Huskieverse projects cannot be done solely with computer science majors.

“We need people from all over campus. It can’t just be computer science. It can’t just be anthropology. It can’t just be environmental science. It needs to be all of them,” Bougher said.

Bougher said the studio is always looking for more motivated people looking to get involved in projects.

“We’re always looking for motivated students who are looking to get that edge. We have been told, and I like to think, we’re probably one of the more unique lab experiences you can get here at NIU,” Bougher said.

Goff said if it is a student’s first time in the studio, they should consider speaking with a staff member.

“Someone just stopping by, I would recommend they talk to somebody who works here or who’s been here a while, like myself, just so you can kind of help wade through all the different things that we do, and hopefully find something that you really connect with,” Goff said.

Bassetti said seeing different people come together and showcase their strengths is beautiful.

“One way or another, everybody is phenomenal. What they do, and when there is a gap or when they’re like needing something, there is somebody else here who has a strength where your weakness is, and it’s really beautiful to kind of like see it working together day in day out,” Bassetti said.

Bassetti brought the space together and continues to foster the individuals who come through its doors. He said he hopes to make others as excited as he is about the projects in 71 North.

“When I think of my role, I’m thinking of how do I make it so that somebody else is excited or as excited as me, if not more, to like be here and do this job, and hopefully even better because they have more skill or they have different perspectives,” Bassetti said.

Originally published by the Northern Star, written by Keegan Nowman. Photo by Diego Martinez, Northern Star.