'The SLab' an experimental crafting space needs an ELEGANT new logo

The SLab

The SLab is a crafting space to learn and experiment with different skills and crafts.

The name SLab is an S and Lab, the S representing whatever the observer identifies it as. No matter where it is and no matter how it will change over the years, it will always have one constant; A slab: a thick, flat piece of a hard material used as a stable working tabletop. Whether it’s woodwork, fashion design, or culinary arts, you’ll always need a slab to work on.

Our philosophy is to help fulfil that basic human instinct to create by offering a space for people to learn different crafts.

Some keywords that identify with The SLab are, ‘experimental’ and ‘work-in-progress’. We are 'lineal and structured' but not rigid. The lab is mostly black and white, contemporary, and elegant.

This is the Logo we've been using as a stand-in so far. We liked it for the reason that it matches with our identity (clean lines, simple, experimental, unfinished, b&w, S looks like a slab) but we've had a lot of criticism from friends and potential customers. The important feedback that we'd like to take into account for the redesign are the following: 1.) No real focal point/strong image. The logo doesn't pop 2.)The S looks too much like the Sketchers 'S' 3.) Spacing all seems a bit off. 4.) We love the old-school 'a', but does it work here? 5.) Logo 'S' will have a really hard time standing on its own.
We're looking for an upgrade, whether it is a complete rework or whether it's just an improvement to the current logo. We're open to any new ideas!

Here's a new set of guidelines which we thought might help;
1.) PLEASE NO BEAKERS OR LAB EQUIPMENTS FOR THE ICON. The word Lab is enough of a communication of the idea of experimental.
2.) For the word SLab, it should be clearly communicated that it's one word, but that the work Lab still somehow retains its own identity.
3.) For the icon, the original logo uses a slab/tabletop because it's the one constant between the different types of crafts that we will offer in the future. In the future, the SLab might offer cooking classes, flower arrangement classes, prop-making, or even photoshop lessons. What would all these have in common if not for a space to work on/in? :) Apologies for making this so difficult.