Prefabrication challenges designers and builders to think differently about how we inhabit space and construct buildings. By its very nature, it lends itself to a minimalist aesthetic that emphasizes materials and connections. Delays caused by shipping and inclement weather can be avoided, providing builders with a more efficient means of creating customized yet affordable homes. Prefabrication also supported Studio 804’s work in Kansas City by eliminating the need for students to commute daily from Lawrence. At the time, projects were completed within a single fall semester, making it invaluable to avoid winter driving and work in a sheltered, climate-controlled environment. Avoiding long interstate commutes after demanding workdays was an additional benefit.

Mod 2 sought to build upon the lessons learned during the construction of Mod 1. Issues of transportation, materials, accessibility, siting, and coordination continued to guide the design process. Recycled and salvaged materials, including excess channel glass from the Bloch Building addition to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, designed by Steven Holl, and reclaimed maple flooring, give Mod 2 the distinctive aesthetic that has come to define Studio 804’s work.