Building Out a Workshop

[popnbrown]

My team is now a 3rd year team, and we are growing, in team size and in team skill. Around this time every year, I keep starting to think about what more to do to allow the team to gain and grow technical skills.

I want to put together a proposal to our school to build a workshop that would be primarily utilized by FRC and FTC teams at school. The room would ONLY be used to build robots. Basically, no tools outside, and no non-robot work inside.

Some background as to why:
We're still a very young team (with a not highly mechanically skilled mentor, me), and we are still climbing the ropes together when it comes to new tools. We primarily use powered and un-powered hand tools, and a Chopsaw this year. Last year was primarily un-powered hand tools.

Currently, our "workshop" (for chopsaw and storage) is a 6 foot by 15 foot space. It's difficult to build in here and so un-powered hand tools and building is done in the adjacent computer classroom. That also proves a little difficult as we don't have any proper benches and end up using the floor (darn stable bench, downside is the floor loves to make bolts/nuts/wrenches disappear).

It's dawned on me (actually ever since we started) that if the team has any future there needs to be a proper investment. A proper workshop with space to build and eventually expand the depth of tools, I think is opportune for a team at our stage. 3 years is when most teams get lost, and I think it would benefit us to make an investment and stand firm. Quick side note: I don't think we're ready for any advanced machining tools (lathe, mill, CNC) but I do want to keep that in mind for 2 or 3 years down the road.

So my main questions:

1. What is a good size for a future-proof workshop dedicated to building robots?
2. Any specific power, structural, extraneous feature recommendation? Think dream-workshop from scratch...okay...dream budget workshop.
3. Our next tool to be purchased will likely be a drill-press and potentially a bandsaw. Any tips or recommendations here?
4. I'll also take recommendations for organization. We currently have a "cheap" Craftsman tool center purchased this year, and a bunch of stacking bins to do a bit of re-org.

If you have any more input on how to better or properly train students with regards to tools and machining, post away. We as a team are about reaching the limit of my knowledge, and this is an attempt for me to try to stay a few steps ahead.