Over the course of two years, a group of graduate students from CU Denver and their professor, Rick Sommerfeld, embarked on a journey that tested their skills, endurance, and teamwork. Partnering with NOAA, the architecture graduate program, Colorado Design Build Workshop, set out to design and construct a new cutting-edge research station for a small group of scientists studying penguins and seals in one of the harshest environments on the planet, Antarctica.

Under the guidance of a surly general contractor, appropriately named “Shaggy”, the students must problem-solve how to design and build a shelter that stands up against the high winds, rain, and snow that constantly besiege the tiny island on the northern tip of Antarctica. Just getting all the material to the remote island proves to be a daunting task as they must cross one of the most dangerous bodies of water known to man, the Drake Passage. The extreme environments, pristine landscapes, and abundance of wildlife set up the conditions for the adventure of a lifetime for these students and alumni.