From Machine Shop to AI Launchpad: The New ALEx Garage
ALEx Garage undergoes renovation
The E.A. Fernandez IDEA Factory’s ALEx Garage is undergoing a major transformation. Led by xFoundry's Head of Technology Alex Onufrak, the garage is renovating into a premier Edge AI Infrastructure Lab, equipped with over $150,000 in Intel Edge computing hardware and supported by an additional $150,000 in Intel-sponsored instructional time and expertise.
The reimagined space will be fully operational by February 2026, following a carefully planned transition. “This isn't just a renovation. It's about creating professional infrastructure our students need to turn competition-winning prototypes into venture-ready companies,” said Onufrak. Â
The lab will serve as a dedicated incubation environment for DefenX, xFoundry’s School Safety Xperience winners, while providing project development space for Intel-sponsored teams working on mental health monitoring, food safety detection, wildfire early warning systems, and more.
What's Coming:
The new lab brings serious technical capabilities. xFoundry Xperience teams will have access to Intel edge computing platforms and rack servers for real-time AI processing, an 85" interactive display for collaboration, and a secure networking room with climate-controlled infrastructure. DefenX will have dedicated space for their AI-powered camera arrays and threat detection systems. Other teams will work on computer vision applications for cafeteria operations (think waste detection and temperature monitoring), mental health monitoring using wearable tech like Oura rings, and high-end sensor deployment for wildfire detection spanning about $45K in equipment.
The Xpress Studio, a new campus wide service to help onsite partners with marketing materials, will also be added for professional content creation, perfect for documenting student projects and creating recruitment materials. This transformation positions UMD’s Engineering school at the intersection of AI, entrepreneurship, and corporate partnership. It demonstrates the capacity to effectively deploy major corporate investments while creating showcase opportunities for future partnerships. Most importantly, it gives our students the professional development environment they need to mature their projects from concept to fundable ventures, which supports xFoundry's equity-based model.
The future of student innovation is being built right now.
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ALEx Garage undergoes renovation
The E.A. Fernandez IDEA Factory’s ALEx Garage is undergoing a major transformation. Led by xFoundry's Head of Technology Alex Onufrak, the garage is renovating into a premier Edge AI Infrastructure Lab, equipped with over $150,000 in Intel Edge computing hardware and supported by an additional $150,000 in Intel-sponsored instructional time and expertise.
The reimagined space will be fully operational by February 2026, following a carefully planned transition. “This isn't just a renovation. It's about creating professional infrastructure our students need to turn competition-winning prototypes into venture-ready companies,” said Onufrak. Â
The lab will serve as a dedicated incubation environment for DefenX, xFoundry’s School Safety Xperience winners, while providing project development space for Intel-sponsored teams working on mental health monitoring, food safety detection, wildfire early warning systems, and more.
What's Coming:
The new lab brings serious technical capabilities. xFoundry Xperience teams will have access to Intel edge computing platforms and rack servers for real-time AI processing, an 85" interactive display for collaboration, and a secure networking room with climate-controlled infrastructure. DefenX will have dedicated space for their AI-powered camera arrays and threat detection systems. Other teams will work on computer vision applications for cafeteria operations (think waste detection and temperature monitoring), mental health monitoring using wearable tech like Oura rings, and high-end sensor deployment for wildfire detection spanning about $45K in equipment.
The Xpress Studio, a new campus wide service to help onsite partners with marketing materials, will also be added for professional content creation, perfect for documenting student projects and creating recruitment materials. This transformation positions UMD’s Engineering school at the intersection of AI, entrepreneurship, and corporate partnership. It demonstrates the capacity to effectively deploy major corporate investments while creating showcase opportunities for future partnerships. Most importantly, it gives our students the professional development environment they need to mature their projects from concept to fundable ventures, which supports xFoundry's equity-based model.
The future of student innovation is being built right now.
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