Metal Roof Powers Student-Built LEED Platinum Home in Kansas

by Jason Cramp | August 5, 2025 5:29 pm

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A student-led design-build project at the University of Kansas is using metal construction to advance real-world sustainability and hands-on architectural education. The recently completed 1040 New York Street House in Lawrence, Kansas, features a composite metal facade and standing seam metal roofing, integrating high-performance building materials into a LEED Platinum-certified residence.

Designed and constructed through the university’s Studio 804 program, this project is the second to be supported by product donations from S-5!, as part of the graduate-level design-build initiative. The project includes a 186 m² (2,000 sf) primary residence and a 93 m² (1,000 sf) accessory dwelling unit (ADU) on an infill site in the city’s historic East Lawrence neighborhood. The 22-gauge matte black standing seam metal roof forms a central part of the building’s sustainability strategy, supporting a solar photovoltaic array and providing long-term weather resistance.

To optimize energy generation, the students installed an 8.8 kW solar array using high-efficiency bifacial solar modules. S-5! donated a direct-attach solar mounting system, which enabled a streamlined, penetration-free installation specifically designed for standing seam metal roofs. The solar array is expected to offset most, if not all, of the home’s energy consumption. In addition, S-5! contributed a snow retention system engineered to complement the roof’s aesthetics and provide reliable snow management during harsh winter months, helping protect both the roof and its occupants.

This marks the 18^th LEED Platinum-certified home completed by Studio 804. Founded by Professor Dan Rockhill, the program challenges architecture students to design and build a fully realized, sustainable structure over the course of a nine-month academic year—emphasizing material selection, energy performance, and constructability.

“We’re honored to support a program like Studio 804 that combines high-level design, hands-on learning, and real-world sustainability,” says Rob Haddock, S-5! CEO and founder. “These students are learning to build smarter and better—and that starts with quality materials and streamlined installation practices.”

The project reinforces the role of metal roofing in achieving durability and high energy performance in residential construction while serving as a practical training ground for future architects.

Source URL: https://www.metalarchitecture.com/news/daily-news/metal-roof-kansas-student-home/

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