Our Studio
Meet the team behind innovative container architecture
Our Story
Atelier7 Architects was founded in 2017 with a simple question: what if we could create beautiful, sustainable homes from materials the world considers waste? Shipping containers—durable, modular, and abundant—offered the perfect canvas.
What started as an experiment in sustainable design has grown into a full-service architecture practice specializing in container-based construction. We've completed over 30 projects across the Southeast, from intimate ADUs to expansive multi-container residences and commercial spaces.
Our approach combines rigorous architectural training with hands-on construction knowledge. We don't just draw plans—we understand how containers are fabricated, transported, and assembled. This practical expertise allows us to design spaces that are not only beautiful but also buildable, affordable, and sustainable.
"Our team has helped set early container precedents in Atlanta—turning unconventional ideas into permitted, buildable projects."
Our Journey
Atelier7 Formalized
Founded with a mission to transform shipping containers into intentional architecture, backed by decades of real-world building experience.
First Atlanta Container Approval
Secured early precedent-setting approvals for container construction in Atlanta, opening doors for innovative residential projects.
Modern Garden ADU
Completed our first award-winning accessory dwelling unit in Austin, TX—a 320 sq ft showcase of efficient container design.
Expanded to Commercial Projects
Launched Terracotta Café, demonstrating container architecture's viability for commercial and hospitality spaces.
Desert Modern Residence
Delivered a four-container, 1,280 sq ft home in Tucson featuring cantilevered design and expansive mountain views.
30+ Projects Milestone
Reached 30+ completed container projects across the Southeast, from intimate ADUs to multi-unit residential and commercial developments.
Continuing Innovation
Expanding our portfolio with cutting-edge designs, pushing the boundaries of sustainable container architecture across the region.
Our Design Philosophy
Sustainable by Design
Every container we repurpose is one less sitting in a shipping yard. We transform industrial waste into beautiful, energy-efficient homes that minimize environmental impact.
Human-Centered Spaces
Great architecture serves people first. We design spaces that enhance daily life, foster connection, and adapt to how you actually live—not how we think you should.
Contextual Innovation
Each site tells a story. We listen to the landscape, climate, and community, creating designs that respond thoughtfully to their unique context rather than imposing generic solutions.
Meet the Team
Sharon Ferguson Pope
Sharon is a co-founder and managing principal for Atelier 7 Architects. Her professional experience includes work in the public and private sectors. She has managed the design and construction of projects diverse in size, complexity and costs from programming through construction completion. Sharon was featured in the January/February 2020 and March/April 2021 issues of Engineering Georgia Magazine as one of the “Top 100 Influential Women in Engineering” and is a member of the American Institute of Architects. She is a registered architect and holds Bachelor of Architecture and Bachelor of Environmental Design degrees from Ball State University and a Master of Science in Building Construction & Facility Management from Georgia Institute of Technology.
Anthony Vincent Pope
Tony is the founder and design principal for Atelier 7 Architects, a firm nationally recognized for its innovative use of shipping containers to create places that are personal, beautiful, comfortable and conceptual; a designer of iconic spaces that express the sense of place, through the use of color, materials and expressive forms with unsurpassed attention to detail. His investigations into modular and pre-fabricated structures led to the award-winning iVillage @ MLK, the first shipping container park in the City of Atlanta and State of Georgia. Tony has been one of Atlanta’s distinct emerging voices in architecture and his work has led to numerous awards, including recognition from the Associated General Contractors, Design Build Institute, Metal Building Association, NOMA, Georgia Minority Business Association and was a 2018 finalist for the Enterprise Rose Fellowship. Tony grew up in Washington, DC, and received a Master of Real Estate Development from Georgia Tech, a Master of Architecture degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Virginia Tech
Kesa McLaurin
Kesa ensures every project runs smoothly from concept to completion. Her meticulous attention to detail and client-focused approach keeps timelines on track and budgets in check.
Philip de la Paz
Philip combines technical precision with creative problem-solving to deliver innovative container architecture solutions. His expertise in structural design and building systems ensures every project is both beautiful and buildable.
Awards & Recognition
AIA Southeast Design Award
2024Desert Modern Residence
Sustainable Architecture Prize
2023Lakeside Retreat
Residential Design Excellence
2023Modern Garden ADU
Innovation in Modular Construction
2022Terracotta Café
Credentials & Certifications
Professional Licenses
- • Licensed Architects (AIA)
- • LEED Accredited Professionals
- • Project Management Professional (PMP)
- • General Contractor License (GA, TN, NC)
Memberships
- • American Institute of Architects (AIA)
- • U.S. Green Building Council
- • Modular Building Institute
- • National Association of Home Builders