Instead of having a permanent workspace, perhaps having a temporary workspace would work. For example, Team 93 is unable to really keep out most of our tools and random scraps out because 80%-ish of the machines we use are actually property of the Appleton Area School District and also because, during the school week, our work space becomes classrooms. Despite this, we turned up in the semi-finals of the WI Regional.
Perhaps a similar arrangement may work for you.