Interlock is a multidisciplinary workshop and hackerspace located in Rochester, New York.

Who are we?

We are Interlock Rochester; the first and only hackerspace in Rochester, NY. Our goal is to provide members of our organization and the community at large with a place to share, learn, and develop ideas in a collaborative, social environment.  Members have access to our space 24/7 and can use it to store their projects, hold meetings, attend classes, or just hang out with other people doing extremely interesting stuff.

Interlock Rochester is an incorporated Not For Profit organization working to obtain official status as a 501(c)(3) Federal Tax Exempt organization. Interlock began in October of 2009 when a small group of like-minded technologists saw the need for a common work and play space for Rochester’s vast number of talented technologists, designers, artists and engineers. The group was officially incorporated on December 1, 2009 and has begun the long process of becoming a federally recognized tax exempt organization.

What is a hackerspace?

A hackerspace is a physical location for individuals to gather, collaborate, socialize, work on projects, and make things. There are more than 350 hackerspaces worldwide that have registered with hackerspaces.org, the official website for hackerspaces worldwide. A lot of hackerspaces have been established for several years, and some are still in the early planning stages. As a part of the hackerspace community, we are part of a larger, growing movement to expand, rethink, and refactor technology in a collaborative, creative environment. Being a part of the large, worldwide hackerspace community allows our organization the ability to expand and connect with like minds globally, from collaborating on projects to attending and supporting virtual and physical events sponsored by other hackerspaces.

Who are our members?

The members of Interlock Rochester have diverse backgrounds and interests, and there are no requirements for background knowledge. You do not need to be an expert in any given area of computing, science, mathematics, or art. We take pride in welcoming anyone into our community who has a genuine interest in learning, sharing, and collaborating on ideas and projects. In order for such an environment to thrive, we do require, at minimum, honesty, respect, and an open-mind.

How can you become a member of Interlock Rochester?

If the idea of a hackerspace interests you, we welcome you to become involved in our community. You do not have to pay dues to get involved with Interlock events and activities. Spend some time at Interlock during our open nights, get to know other members, and if you decide membership is right for you, let us know! All new members can then be properly welcomed into the community, explained the membership do’s and dont’s, and sign necessary membership paperwork to become a member at that time.

If you’ve visited us already, and you know you’re ready, e-mail a completed application to info at interlock roc dot org. You can download the application here.

With any membership to any awesome community comes necessary expenses. Members are asked to pay timely dues of $50/month. Discounted memberships for full-time college students are available at the rate of $35/month.

What are the benefits of membership?

  • Key fob for 24×7 access to the space
  • Invitation to every Interlock-sponsored event (classes, parties, outings)
  • Discounts to classes that require tools and materials
  • Dedicated space to keep your personal projects and equipment
  • Discounts to local organizations that have partnered with the space
  • Voting rights for where money should be spent, how the space should look, and other general decisions made by the group

How do donations work?

Besides dues, we also rely on members to contribute equipment and other resources.  We welcome equipment donations that are useful to our members and our space. You can find a list of items we are currently looking to acquire here. We are currently working towards obtaining 501(c)3 status, so at this time, donations are not yet tax deductible. Consult your tax advisor for information regarding charitable contributions to organizations with pending 501(c)3 status.