BTU Lab (University of Colorado Boulder) and The Lab 808 (industrial PVC/plastics business) appear to be two different organizations; below I provide concise, sourced profiles for each so you can pick the one you intended. If you meant a different “BTU” (e.g., BTU International or another firm), tell me which and I’ll focus the profile accordingly.
BTU Lab — ATLAS Institute (University of Colorado Boulder)
High-level overview
- BTU Lab is a university-affiliated makerspace and student hackerspace that supports interdisciplinary projects at the intersection of art, design, engineering, and architecture at CU Boulder, operating within the ATLAS Institute. It provides tools, training, and a community for students and campus members to prototype and experiment[6][3].- As a campus makerspace it “serves” students, faculty, and campus community by offering access to 3D printing, woodworking, laser cutting, electronics prototyping, textiles/sewing and more, helping solve the problem of providing low-cost access to fabrication and collaborative workspace for cross-disciplinary projects and early-stage creative research[6][3]. It supports academic programs and community projects rather than selling a commercial product[6][3]. Growth/traction: the lab runs recurring workshops, open hack nights, a graduate residency desk program, and maintains tools and orientations that indicate ongoing student engagement and institutional support[3][5][4].
Origin story
- The BTU Lab is housed in the ATLAS Institute at the University of Colorado Boulder; public pages describe it as a student-run hackerspace and residency hub (room and membership details visible on lab pages)[3][6].- The site’s “about” and community pages emphasize the lab’s roots as an open, member-driven makerspace supporting creative technology and design curricula; it functions as a place for experimentation and community learning, with an anti-harassment policy and structured orientations for use of tools[3][6].
Core differentiators
- Inclusive, campus-focused makerspace model with open membership for students and cross-disciplinary collaboration[3][6].- Broad toolset and hands-on support (3D printing, laser cutting, woodworking, electronics, textiles) plus structured orientations and safety policies to enable diverse projects[6][4].- Community programming: workshops, Open Hack Nights, graduate residency desks and collaborative student projects that integrate art, engineering and design[3][5].
Role in the broader tech/creative landscape
- Rides the makerspace / distributed fabrication trend that lowers barrier to prototyping and interdisciplinary invention in universities; timing matters because universities increasingly emphasize experiential, cross-disciplinary learning and entrepreneurship support[6][3].- Influences CU Boulder’s startup and creative-technology ecosystem by serving as an early-stage prototyping and community hub for students who may spin out projects, startups, or research from lab work[3][6].
Quick take & future outlook
- Expect continued steady value as an institutional makerspace: ongoing student demand, curricular integration, and potential to spawn student startups or research outputs. Continued growth depends on institutional support, equipment refresh cycles, and engagement with campus entrepreneurship programs[3][6]. The lab’s open, member-driven model ties back to its mission of making “science fiction science fact” through hands-on experimentation[3].
Sources: University of Colorado ATLAS BTU Lab pages and affiliated BTU Lab site[6][3][5].
The Lab 808 (industrial plastics / PVC supplier)
High-level overview
- The Lab 808 (styled “THE LAB 808”) appears to be a commercial company in the plastics industry focused on PVC synthetic leather and PVC compounds for injection molding, serving clients in footwear, bags and other consumer goods manufacturing[7].- It sells industrial plastic materials (PVC synthetic leather and PVC compounds) to manufacturers in shoes, bags and related consumer-product markets, solving the supplier-side problem of consistent material supply and formulation for product makers; growth signals on the site are limited to product/market focus rather than explicit traction metrics[7].
Origin story
- The company’s About page positions it as dedicated to the plastic industry with emphasis on PVC synthetic leather and compound formulations for injection; the site does not list founding year or founders on the public about page[7].
Core differentiators
- Product focus on PVC synthetic leather and PVC compound formulations optimized for injection processes (i.e., specialized materials for footwear, bags, consumer goods)[7].- Industry specialization (shoes, bags and consumer markets) rather than a broad commodity plastics supplier[7].
Role in the broader tech/industry landscape
- Operates within global supply chains for footwear and accessories where material formulation, cost and manufacturability are important; such suppliers matter for product design, cost management, and sustainability transitions in materials (though I found no public sustainability claims on the page)[7].
Quick take & future outlook
- The Lab 808 is a niche industrial supplier; growth and influence will depend on product quality, customer relationships with footwear and accessory manufacturers, and any moves into differentiated materials (e.g., sustainable PVC alternatives) or expanded formulation services. Public info is limited; direct outreach or additional company materials would be needed to assess traction or financials[7].
Source: THE LAB 808 About page[7].
If you want a single, combined one-page profile in the exact format you requested for either BTU Lab (CU Boulder) or The Lab 808 (PVC business) I can produce that next — tell me which organization to finalize and I’ll expand the sections and format it precisely.
