Studio 804 is a yearlong, comprehensive educational opportunity for graduate students who are entering the final year of the Master of Architecture program at the KU School of Architecture and Design. During each academic year students enrolled in the full-time class design and construct a building of great design and technical sophistication; we have completed sixteen LEED Platinum projects in as many years and anticipate completing our seventeenth LEED Platinum project this year. 

Sustainability, urban infill, and integration with the natural environment are among the driving forces behind the design of 436 Indiana Street. Located in East Lawrence, the site is walkable to nearby Burcham Park and the Kaw Riverfront, as well as downtown Lawrence. On the ground level, one enters into a mudroom, with two bedrooms, a guest powder room, and mechanical room to follow. Going up to the second floor, the plan opens up to the main living space, dining, and kitchen with views framed towards the southern tree canopy. The spacious primary suite, with attached bath and walk-in closet, sits facing East of the site to combine privacy and connectivity to nature through the use of floor to ceiling glazing. Similar in language, the two floors differ in materiality and orientation, providing a secluded “backyard” to the southeast corner of the lot. It is our expectation to achieve LEED Platinum certification, the highest level possible under the Green Building Council’s standards for sustainable practice. Sixteen roof mounted solar panels contribute significantly to the offset of energy of the home’s energy consumption.