We Built the Space We Couldn’t Find
Corrugated Universe is part maker space, part play space, and part community hangout — built for kids, families, and grownups who like to make things with their hands.
After careers in design — and now raising a family here in Vermont —we found ourselves looking for a welcoming indoor space where our daughter could build, experiment, and stay curious, especially during long winters. We wanted something hands-on and creative for ourselves, too.
When we couldn’t quite find it, we decided to build it.
Cardboard became the foundation because it’s humble, forgiving, and surprisingly powerful. It’s accessible, recyclable, and abundant — a material that invites experimentation without waste or intimidation. With the right tools and a little imagination, a simple box can become almost anything.
We believe shared making is better
You can build with cardboard at home — and you should. In fact, all the tools we use here are available for purchase. But something changes when making is shared.
Here, kids build alongside other kids with safe tools, guidance, and inspiration all around them. Ideas spread. Confidence grows. Individual builds become collective stories.
For grownups, it’s a rare chance to slow down, unplug, and be fully present in a community that values curiosity, play, and building together.
Community driven. Independently run.
We’re not a nonprofit—but we operate with that spirit. Our goal isn’t to extract profit from every visit; it’s to make creative space accessible, sustainable, and community-centered. Memberships, classes, and events simply keep the lights on, the tools sharp, and the cardboard flowing. We reinvest in better equipment, better programming, and opportunities for more families and makers to participate—because the mission comes first.
Location
Located on Main Street in downtown Brattleboro, near several municipal parking lots.
Our address
61 Main Street
Brattleboro, VT 05301