Studio 804 is a year-long, educational opportunity for graduate students who are entering the final year of the Master of Architecture program at the University of Kansas (KU) School of Architecture and Design. Students are tasked with real-world building challenges as part of the program, including the designing, hiring of consultants, establishing budgets, getting permits and the physical act of building the entire structure. In addition, Studio 804 students specify all products and solicit donations, which helps them understand the role that building manufacturers play in bringing new technologies to market, as well as the real costs of the materials used in construction.
Because Studio 804 and Atlas have worked together in the past, the Architecture program, led by Dan Rockhill, was familiar with the EnergyShield polyiso insulation solutions and selected the sustainable products to construct their new project. Atlas and Studio 804 have collaborated since 2020, previously constructing two unique projects, including a single-family LEED platinum certified residence in Lawrence, Kansas and a sustainable housing community built out of shipping containers for people experiencing homelessness.