Learning at Athenian is anything but ordinary—it’s hands-on, minds-on, and full of possibility.
Welcome to the Carter Innovation Studio (CIS), a 5,200-square-foot playground for creativity and discovery. Designed for students in grades 6-12, this space is where ideas come alive. Whether they’re designing, prototyping, testing, or building, students are encouraged to take risks, solve problems, and discover their own voices through innovation.
The CIS is a hub of activity all day, every day. Its open floor plan invites collaboration, with spaces dedicated to woodworking, metalworking, textiles, and rapid prototyping. Students can explore everything from 3D printing and laser cutting to vinyl cutting and digital embroidery. Highlights include a "pit" for our robotics team, an experimental planetary impact lab, and classrooms that flow seamlessly into the fabrication area.
Create, collaborate, and dream big.
It's more than just a workspace—it’s a community center. Students drop by to create swag for their club using the digital embroidery machine, design a project to build upon the infrastructure of the school’s orchard, or work on class projects spanning every discipline—from Middle School Social Studies to Upper School language courses. It’s also home to classes like design thinking, engineering, and entrepreneurship, as well as special programs like Focus Days and March Term courses.
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Here, you’ll find students using:
- Epilog Lazer Cutters
- Ultimaker S3s
- Formalbs 2 Resin Printer
- Brother Stellaire XE1 Digital Embroidery Machine
- Shopbot CNC Router
- Creaform 3D Scanner
- Shaper Origin Router
Through the CIS internship program, Upper School students help maintain equipment, support operations, and ensure the space is welcoming for everyone.
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