Chelsea Gets a New High-Tech Playground

Kids (and adults) have a new place to play in Chelsea. Sandbox – a "STEAM-focused innovation lab" – just opened at 520 West 28th Street by Zaha Hadid off the High Line, providing wannabe inventors a chance to tinker with robots, digital games, ceramics, virtual reality, app development and more.

A true tech geek's dream (with an element of art thrown in as well), the space offers the latest and greatest in maker space technology, like Ultimaker 3D and Glowforge laser printers and a VR room with equipment by VIVE and Oculus.

The Sandbox

And unlike a typical amenity space, Sandbox will have select programming that will open it up to all Related residents (not just those who live at 520 W 28th Street). The Sandbox Playground – a temporary event space adjacent to Sandbox – will feature a rotating set of partners who will activate the space during a series of events scheduled this fall.

A child plays with a VR headset at Sandbox, during the opening last week.

First up is the non-profit group The Nerdy Derby, which teaches children to design and build their own race cars. Last week, during the opening of Sandbox, kids (and– let us reiterate again –also adults), built, decorated and raced mini cars on a custom-built race track as well as a "Super Jump" ramp, which measured the distance the cars travelled after they flew through the air in a "no-rules" competition.

Other partners that will be coming in this fall include Brooklyn Robot Foundry and MacInspires.

Building race cars with Nerdby Derby

Related residents will have the opportunity to play at the Sandbox in the next few weeks during Kids Club events. Keep an eye on your inbox and in the Related Connect App for an invitation to find out when you can come play.

Racing cars with Nerdby Derby

The Sandbox Playground

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