Building on the Edge (2025)

Feature Length Documentary

A group of architecture students embark on an epic adventure when they set out to design and build a research station on one of the least hospitable places on the planet, Antarctica.

As filmmakers, we are always drawn to stories of human ingenuity, resilience, and the pursuit of knowledge. When we first learned about CU Denver’s Colorado Design Build Workshop’s ambitious endeavor to design and construct a research station in Antarctica, we knew there was a story to be told.

Over 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, culminating in the completion of four cutting-edge structures that would support NOAA scientists studying seals and penguins.

The juxtaposition of the fragile beauty and the unforgiving conditions of Antarctica creates an inspiring and visually stunning story. These students push the boundaries of design, sustainability, and construction in an environment where every material choice and structural decision can mean the difference between success and failure. The project would not have been possible without the expertise and tenacity of Brendan “Shaggy” Neahusan and his team at Bespoke Project Solutions—their experience working in the harsh Antarctic environment as well as Shaggy’s mentorship, guidance, and dedication to the students helped turned theoretical designs into functional, resilient structures.

At its core, this film is about collaboration—between students, professionals and government, between science and design, between humans and the natural world. It is about the profound impact of designing with purpose and the lessons we learn when we step outside the classroom and into the real world, especially when that world is Antarctica.

We hope to bring audiences into the heart of this endeavor, allowing them to witness the transformation of ideas into reality. Ultimately, this documentary is a celebration of possibility. It is a reminder that even in the most extreme environments, where nature dictates the rules, human creativity and determination can rise to meet the challenge.