[tjf]

1257, 1228, and most of the teams I know operate out of their sponsor school. They usually work out of a single classroom and storage room, or the old woodshop, or something similar.

Getting your own building is difficult, as your team would have to "exist" in the legal sense of the word. Either way, best of luck to you!

As for essential tools, I have to say a bandsaw & decent set of wrenches, screwdrivers, and files were absolutely essential to our work. A deburring tool was the icing on the cake though.

Organization is the one skill that can help make *any* workshop work. Perhaps just treating your workspace like a pit will help in terms of organization.