NILES CHARTER TOWNSHIP — A space for makers to create and future makers to learn how is slated to open Sept. 1 at 2601 N. Fifth St. in Niles Charter Township.

After months of delays, the Niles S.T.E.A.M. Room is expected to open next week and offer memberships to use its equipment, from 3D laser printers to kilns, and classes for those interested in taking up a new skill.

The nonprofit makerspace has been 10 years in the making, said Meg Edwards, one of four co-founders and leaders. Now, all the nonprofit needs is approval from the Niles Charter Township Fire Department.

After difficulties finding the right building to host community-oriented spaces and a variety of equipment, S.T.E.A.M. Room — short for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Manufacturing Room — is prepared to begin offering memberships and select classes.

“I’m excited about the interaction that can happen here,” Edwards said. “Somebody might come in to sew, but then they find that the Glowforge is really cool, and they want to do something on that.”

Glowforge is the 3D laser printer located in S.T.E.A.M. Room. It is across from a just-obtained vinyl cutter and will soon be the neighbor of pottery kilns and wheels.

In rooms adjacent to the Glowforge are tools for sewing, knitting and weaving, and a space for group brainstorming.

In front of the brainstorming room is the nonprofit’s entrance. Edwards said it can be used for a plethora of programs, tutoring, club meetings and birthday parties.

The extent of future machinery, classes and programs depends largely on what its users and prospective users indicate it wants, Edwards said.

“Whatever the community decides it wants, we’ll offer different things and see what works and what doesn’t,” she said.

“That’s the only way we can make it successful: getting the community involved,” she added.

Edwards said she hopes community input will lead to a diverse array of community members buying memberships for the space, taking classes and teaching classes.

“It’s that community factor again,” she said. “There are so many people in the older generations that have knowledge and skills that are being lost today, and kids that have no access to learning those skills. The middle generation never learned them. We’d like to bring them together.”

Edwards has found that the middle generation — such as those with children in high school — have contacted her the most about S.T.E.A.M. Room. Younger generations have shown an interest, too.

If S.T.E.A.M. Room opens on Sept. 1 as planned, member makers will have 24/7 access to the space, courtesy of key cards. Each member will need to take a lesson with a teacher to confirm they have the expertise to correctly use certain machinery.

Membership costs are the following: $30 per month for adults, $20 per month for seniors and students and $50 per month for families. A $10 one-day pass can also be purchased, and each day’s cost will decrease the more one-day passes a person buys.

Classes will begin in mid-September. A list of current classes will be released later this week at nilessteamroom.com/classes.

Teachers will set the cost of classes, Edwards said. They can choose a basic service, a full service or a volunteer service option.

The first option requires teachers to give 30 percent of costs to S.T.E.A.M. Room. The second requires teachers give $15 an hour. The third option requires teachers to give all of their profits back to the nonprofit.

The costs will fund the upkeep of the building and its resources, and buy new equipment. Edwards said she hopes the membership and class fees will allow the nonprofit’s leadership team to make some money as well. Right now, the leaders all work full-time and have been creating S.T.E.A.M. Room voluntarily when they can.