Important: VWeLab Tour Address Change for the pre-conference tour: 865 East 3rd Street, Chattanooga, TN 37403. You will need to Uber or Drive as it is not on a bus route. See map above.

Pre-Conference Tours

Some of Chattanooga’s most interesting makers have opened their doors to provide NOMCON attendees an in-depth look at the networks, resources, and technology Chattanooga has cultivated over the past twenty-one years to create an ecosystem that is supportive of makers and helps some of them move into entrepreneurship. These tours are available to reserve when you purchase your NOMCON tickets. Please note: Tours are available on a first-come, first-serve basis so it is important to reserve your tour as soon as you are able.

Volkswagen eLab Tour

Perfect for maker educators, the Volkswagen eLab tours will each last approximately 20 minutes and feature the Fab Labs that have been installed in public schools thanks to a $1m investment by Volkswagen Group of America, the State of Tennessee, and the Public Education Foundation.

Chattanooga Public Library-
4th Floor and MOre

One of the pioneers of the public library makerspace movement, their 4th floor is an internationally renowned makerspace taking up 12,000 square feet of the top floor of the downtown library. The library also has an industry standard 1,000 square foot recording studio, dedicated youth center filled with hands on maker & STEM activities & a tool lending library. Join the CPL staff for a behind the scenes tour, hear from staff and our users.

Chattanooga Woodworking Academy

Founded in 2013, the Chattanooga Woodworking Academy is a non-profit professional woodworking school that trains individuals to become master woodworkers, able to shape wood for any purpose – from building log cabins to creating fine furniture. Conference goers will observe how students learn craftsmanship from the ground up, starting with hand tools, and then power tools as they progress.

the INCubator

A program of the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce, the INCubator is the largest business incubator in the state of Tennessee, and the third largest in the United States. Tour goers will visit 3 to 4 companies in the INCubator and learn about their three-year, progressive development program that capitalizes on the synergy of the BDC’s unique entrepreneurial ecosystem made up of about 50 startups businesses.

Tennessee Aquarium

Situated on the Tennessee River in Home to 10000 animals, the Tennessee Aquarium has a focused expertise in restoring fresh= water ecosystems and helping people appreciate the need for environmental health in our region. Go behind the Scenes at the Tennessee Aquarium and learn about the mechanics, resources and staff that keep this bio-community thriving, Please note: tickets to see the exhibits at the aquarium is available for a separate charge.

Creative Discovery Museum

Join a study tour of the Creative Discovery Museum’s maker spaces. Visit the Art Studio, Culinary Corner (teaching kitchen), Make It Space and Creation Station. Participate in activities in all of these spaces and experience how Creative Discovery Museum defines making and uses maker activities to inspire all children to explore, innovate, create and play. Following the exploration of maker activities, participants will engage in a discussion about the educational goals involved with making and the evaluation
of these goals.

BRANCH TECHNOLOGY

“Founded in 2014 with the vision of revolutionizing the built environment, Branch Technology has developed a new large-scale 3D-printing process called Cellular Fabrication (C-FABTM) to create architectural structures with the world’s largest Freeform 3D-printers. Tour-goers will see this 3D-printing process in action and learn about the ways it is bringing unprecedented design freedom and resource stewardship to the construction industry.”

MUELLER CHATTANOOGA TECHNOLOGY CENTER

In order to be better connected to the innovation ecosystem and take advantage of the wide array of maker community initiatives, Mueller opened this 2 million dollar Technology Center recently opened in the heart of Chattanooga's downtown business district. This state of the art facility allows Mueller to test and develop new technologies that detect leaks in underground water systems and create new products that help utility companies provide better quality while conserving water.

CHATTLAB MAKERSPACE MEET & GREET

Founded in 2012, this member driven makerspace went through lots of changes before becoming a major resource for start-ups in Chattanooga. Today, ChattLab is an anchor tenant in the INCubator and partners with a variety of area maker organizations to provide resources and classes that help support their mission. Join us for a visit and an open dialog about the state of making.