About the program
Few architects ever have the chance to design buildings for one of the most extreme environments on Earth: Antarctica. Building on the Edge tells the story of one such group of designers. When scientists at NOAA grew frustrated by the poor design quality available within strict government budgets, they took an unconventional leap: they invited the University of Colorado’s Master of Architecture Design/Build class to take on the challenge.
The students were tasked not only with designing functional structures in a landscape better suited to penguins and seals than humans, but also with navigating a complex logistical puzzle. Their buildings would need to be built in Colorado, disassembled, shipped to Chile, loaded onto a vessel capable of braving the infamous Drake Passage, and finally transferred by rubber raft to the Antarctic coast, where they’d be reassembled on-site. Building on the Edge captures the thrill of design idealism clashing with the challenges of full-scale reality.
This screening is presented by Chicago Architecture Center as part of the Architecture & Design Film Festival: CHICAGO. From February 19—22, 2026, the festival presents 10 feature-length screenings in two downtown venues—with many screenings including Q&As with the filmmakers.
