At Western International High School, students have a new space to turn ideas into something they can design, build, test and improve.
By the DPSCD Foundation · October 2026 · Photography: DPSCD Foundation
The Ford Future Builders Lab brings advanced technology directly into the school, giving students hands-on opportunities to explore mobility, engineering and manufacturing while developing skills they can carry into college and careers.
On October 14, students welcomed Ford leaders, educators and community partners for an opening that put their creativity front and center. They guided guests through interactive demonstrations, shared their designs and showcased what is possible when students have the tools and space to experiment. Even the refreshments reflected student talent, with Western’s student chefs preparing and serving food for the celebration.
The opening marked an important milestone. The lasting impact will unfold as students make the lab part of their learning.
Western International High School, Detroit
October 14, 2026
3D printing stations, laser-cutting equipment, coding and robotics tools
Ford Motor Company, Ford Philanthropy and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation
Labs at Amelia Earhart Elementary-Middle School and Munger Elementary-Middle School
A Place to Design, Build and Discover
Western’s lab includes 3D printing stations, laser-cutting equipment, and coding and robotics tools, connecting academic concepts with practical applications.
With 3D printing, students can turn a digital design into a physical prototype. In automotive and manufacturing projects, that could mean creating a model vehicle component, exploring how gears work together or testing how individual parts fit within an assembly. Students can check measurements, identify problems and revise their designs before producing another version.
That process introduces a central principle of engineering: improvement comes through testing, learning and trying again.
Laser-cutting equipment offers opportunities to explore precision fabrication, while coding and robotics tools help students understand how software can control movement and physical systems. Together, these technologies give students new ways to apply math and science, collaborate with classmates and work through problems with tangible results.
“We know the demand for skilled talent is growing, and we have an opportunity right now to make sure Detroit students are positioned to meet it. That requires more than introducing students to careers. We have to give them access to the tools, technology and experiences that allow them to build relevant skills while they are still in our schools. The Future Builders Lab is part of a larger strategy to close the gap between education and opportunity, so our students leave DPSCD prepared not only for what comes next, but to compete, contribute and build careers in the industries driving Detroit and Michigan forward.”
President and CEO, DPSCD Foundation
During the opening, activities ranging from custom shirt pressing to sail design and 3D boat racing offered a glimpse of that learning in action. Students took the lead in explaining their work and inviting guests to participate.
Opening Day at Western
October 14, 2026 · Western International High School, Detroit · Photos: DPSCD Foundation
Building a Pathway, Starting Earlier
Western’s opening is an important step, with more to come. The plan is to bring two additional Ford Future Builders Labs to DPSCD at Amelia Earhart Elementary-Middle School and Munger Elementary-Middle School, introducing students to these tools and experiences earlier in their education.
The three DPSCD labs are part of a broader $1.54 million investment from Ford Motor Company, Ford Philanthropy and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation bringing this learning model to schools in Detroit, Marshall and Battle Creek.
From Ford Motor Company, Ford Philanthropy and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, bringing Future Builders Labs to schools in Detroit, Marshall and Battle Creek. Three of those labs are in DPSCD.
The progression is intentional: spark curiosity earlier, then give students opportunities to build on it. At Earhart and Munger, students will be able to explore fabrication, technology and design before making decisions about their high school experience. At Western, they can deepen those interests through the Mobility Career Pathway, the Future Builders Lab and expanding automotive technology programming.
Amelia Earhart Elementary-Middle School
A planned lab introducing fabrication, technology and design before high school.
Munger Elementary-Middle School
A second planned lab giving younger students early, hands-on experience.
Western International High School
Now open: the Mobility Career Pathway, the Future Builders Lab and expanding automotive technology programming.
This work supports DPSCD’s High School Redesign strategy, which strengthens connections among academics, Career and Technical Education, postsecondary opportunities and industry. The goal is to give students clearer pathways from exploration to preparation, with meaningful choices about what comes after graduation.
“As we redesign the high school experience, we want our students to learn in environments that reflect the world they will enter after graduation. That means giving them opportunities to solve problems, use emerging technologies, work collaboratively and apply what they learn in meaningful ways. The Ford Future Builders Lab at Western expands our ability to provide those experiences and helps students build both the technical and transferable skills they will need for college and careers.”
Superintendent, Detroit Public Schools Community District
A Growing Partnership for Detroit Students
The lab adds to a growing partnership between the DPSCD Foundation, Ford and Ford Philanthropy to expand career-connected learning.
Earlier this year, an additional $5 million investment from Ford Motor Company, Ford Philanthropy and Bloomberg Philanthropies was announced to modernize and expand automotive technology education at Breithaupt Career and Technical Center and reestablish automotive technology programming at Western.
Ford Motor Company, Ford Philanthropy and Bloomberg Philanthropies, for automotive technology education at Breithaupt Career and Technical Center and Western.
Together, these efforts connect early experiences with technology and design to increasingly specialized training. Students can begin by discovering what interests them, then build the knowledge and skills to pursue it further.
Inside the Lab
Custom shirt pressing, sail design and 3D boat racing were among the opening-day activities.
For the DPSCD Foundation, helping bring these partnerships into schools is part of a larger commitment to connecting students with opportunities that prepare them for the future.
At Western, that future is becoming something students can put their hands on:
Share
