diff --git a/docker/base/Dockerfile.nmp-studio-ui b/docker/base/Dockerfile.nmp-studio-ui
index 865bd4bce0..9481221fe3 100644
--- a/docker/base/Dockerfile.nmp-studio-ui
+++ b/docker/base/Dockerfile.nmp-studio-ui
@@ -3,7 +3,9 @@ ARG NODE_VERSION=22
 ARG DOCKERHUB_MIRROR=docker.io/library
 
 # --------------- BASE --------------- #
-FROM ${DOCKERHUB_MIRROR}/node:${NODE_VERSION}-bookworm AS base
+# dist/ is architecture-independent JS/CSS/HTML, so build it once on the builder's
+# native arch. Emulated arm64 builds hang in Vite chunk rendering under QEMU.
+FROM --platform=$BUILDPLATFORM ${DOCKERHUB_MIRROR}/node:${NODE_VERSION}-bookworm AS base
 ENV PUPPETEER_SKIP_DOWNLOAD=true
 
 # Preserve the Platform repository layout so SDK generation can resolve
@@ -70,12 +72,17 @@ COPY web/packages/studio/env/${ENV_FILE} packages/studio/env/.env
 # so the Dockerfile can retry before the GitHub job-level timeout cancels the run.
 RUN set -eu; \
   for attempt in 1 2 3; do \
-    if VITE_VERSION_SHA="${VITE_VERSION_SHA}" NODE_ENV="${NODE_ENV}" \
+    status=0; \
+    VITE_VERSION_SHA="${VITE_VERSION_SHA}" NODE_ENV="${NODE_ENV}" \
       timeout --kill-after=30s 15m \
-      pnpm --filter nemo-studio-ui --fail-if-no-match build:fastapi; then \
+      pnpm --filter nemo-studio-ui --fail-if-no-match build:fastapi || status="$?"; \
+    if [ "${status}" = "0" ]; then \
+      if [ ! -f /app/web/packages/studio/dist/index.html ]; then \
+        echo "Studio UI build reported success but dist/index.html is missing"; \
+        exit 1; \
+      fi; \
       exit 0; \
     fi; \
-    status="$?"; \
     if [ "${status}" != "124" ] && [ "${status}" != "137" ]; then \
       exit "${status}"; \
     fi; \
diff --git a/docs/set-up/config-reference.mdx b/docs/set-up/config-reference.mdx
index 6d12bab026..c840696658 100644
--- a/docs/set-up/config-reference.mdx
+++ b/docs/set-up/config-reference.mdx
@@ -914,7 +914,7 @@ Configuration for the Studio service.
 
 ```yaml wordWrap
 studio:
-  # Path to the directory containing the built static UI assets. When unset, defaults to the `static/` directory bundled alongside the `nmp.studio` package (populated by the wheel build).
+  # Path to the directory containing the built static UI assets. When unset, Studio looks for the `static/` directory bundled alongside the `nmp.studio` package (populated by the wheel build), then `/static/studio` (where NeMo Platform container images place the bundle), then `web/packages/studio/dist` in a source checkout.
   static_files_path:
   # Base URL of the platform. This is used by the Studio UI to make API calls. | default: ''
   platform_base_url: ''
diff --git a/services/studio/src/nmp/studio/config.py b/services/studio/src/nmp/studio/config.py
index 7270a935ae..7876b0f62e 100644
--- a/services/studio/src/nmp/studio/config.py
+++ b/services/studio/src/nmp/studio/config.py
@@ -62,8 +62,10 @@ class StudioConfig(create_service_config_class("studio")):  # type: ignore[misc]
         default=None,
         description=(
             "Path to the directory containing the built static UI assets. "
-            "When unset, defaults to the `static/` directory bundled alongside the "
-            "`nmp.studio` package (populated by the wheel build)."
+            "When unset, Studio looks for the `static/` directory bundled alongside the "
+            "`nmp.studio` package (populated by the wheel build), then `/static/studio` "
+            "(where NeMo Platform container images place the bundle), then "
+            "`web/packages/studio/dist` in a source checkout."
         ),
     )
     platform_base_url: str = Field(
diff --git a/services/studio/src/nmp/studio/service.py b/services/studio/src/nmp/studio/service.py
index 7a05c52823..27faefb775 100644
--- a/services/studio/src/nmp/studio/service.py
+++ b/services/studio/src/nmp/studio/service.py
@@ -39,6 +39,27 @@
     "upgrade",
 }
 
+CONTAINER_STATIC_FILES_PATH = Path("/static/studio")
+
+SOURCE_CHECKOUT_TIPS_HTML = """      <h2>Build tips</h2>
+      <p>Run these commands from the repository root.</p>
+      <p>Studio uses the Node.js and pnpm engines in <code>web/package.json</code>.</p>
+      <p>If you use nvm:</p>
+      <pre>source ~/.nvm/nvm.sh
+nvm install 22
+nvm use 22
+make bootstrap-studio
+nemo services restart</pre>
+      <p>If you use pnpm-managed Node.js:</p>
+      <pre>pnpm env use --global 22.18.0
+make bootstrap-studio
+nemo services restart</pre>"""
+
+DOCS_URL = "https://docs.nvidia.com/nemo-platform"
+
+PACKAGED_INSTALL_NOTICE_HTML = f"""      <p>This install ships with the Studio bundle, so this is unexpected.</p>
+      <p>See the <a href="{DOCS_URL}">NeMo Platform documentation</a> for help.</p>"""
+
 
 class StudioService(Service[StudioConfig]):
     """Studio service for serving the NeMo Studio UI static assets.
@@ -252,36 +273,29 @@ def _mount_missing_static_files_notice(self, app: FastAPI, static_path: Path) ->
         @app.get("/studio/", include_in_schema=False)
         @app.get("/studio/{path:path}", include_in_schema=False)
         async def studio_static_files_missing(path: str = "") -> HTMLResponse:
-            return self._missing_static_files_response(static_path, path)
+            return self._missing_static_files_response(
+                static_path, path, source_checkout=self._source_static_files_path() is not None
+            )
 
     @staticmethod
-    def _missing_static_files_response(static_path: Path, requested_path: str = "") -> HTMLResponse:
+    def _missing_static_files_response(
+        static_path: Path, requested_path: str = "", source_checkout: bool = True
+    ) -> HTMLResponse:
         route = "/studio" if requested_path == "" else f"/studio/{requested_path}"
+        recovery_html = SOURCE_CHECKOUT_TIPS_HTML if source_checkout else PACKAGED_INSTALL_NOTICE_HTML
         html = f"""<!doctype html>
 <html lang="en">
   <head>
     <meta charset="utf-8">
-    <title>NeMo Studio assets are not built</title>
+    <title>NeMo Studio assets were not found</title>
   </head>
   <body>
     <main>
-      <h1>NeMo Studio assets are not built</h1>
+      <h1>NeMo Studio assets were not found</h1>
       <p>The platform is running, but Studio cannot be served because the built web assets were not found.</p>
       <p>Requested path: <code>{escape(route)}</code></p>
       <p>Expected assets at: <code>{escape(str(static_path))}</code></p>
-      <h2>Build tips</h2>
-      <p>Run these commands from the repository root.</p>
-      <p>Studio uses the Node.js and pnpm engines in <code>web/package.json</code>.</p>
-      <p>If you use nvm:</p>
-      <pre>source ~/.nvm/nvm.sh
-nvm install 22
-nvm use 22
-make bootstrap-studio
-nemo services restart</pre>
-      <p>If you use pnpm-managed Node.js:</p>
-      <pre>pnpm env use --global 22.18.0
-make bootstrap-studio
-nemo services restart</pre>
+{recovery_html}
     </main>
   </body>
 </html>
@@ -297,7 +311,8 @@ def _get_static_files_path(self) -> Path:
 
         Returns:
             The configured static_files_path from StudioConfig, falling back to the
-            packaged `static/` directory or source checkout `web/packages/studio/dist`.
+            packaged `static/` directory, the container image bundle at
+            `/static/studio`, or source checkout `web/packages/studio/dist`.
         """
         configured = self._get_config().static_files_path
         if configured is not None:
@@ -307,6 +322,10 @@ def _get_static_files_path(self) -> Path:
         if self._static_assets_ready(packaged_static):
             return packaged_static
 
+        container_static = self._container_static_files_path()
+        if self._static_assets_ready(container_static):
+            return container_static
+
         source_static = self._source_static_files_path()
         if source_static is not None:
             return source_static
@@ -318,6 +337,11 @@ def _packaged_static_files_path() -> Path:
         """Return the package-local Studio static asset directory."""
         return Path(__file__).parent / "static"
 
+    @staticmethod
+    def _container_static_files_path() -> Path:
+        """Return the Studio bundle location baked into NeMo Platform container images."""
+        return CONTAINER_STATIC_FILES_PATH
+
     @staticmethod
     def _static_assets_ready(path: Path) -> bool:
         """Return True when a path looks like a built Studio UI bundle."""
diff --git a/services/studio/tests/unit/test_service.py b/services/studio/tests/unit/test_service.py
index ab367809ce..8346a12219 100644
--- a/services/studio/tests/unit/test_service.py
+++ b/services/studio/tests/unit/test_service.py
@@ -229,13 +229,14 @@ def test_same_origin_request_is_allowed(self, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch):
 class TestStaticFilesPath:
     """Tests for static_files_path configuration."""
 
-    def test_default_static_files_path(self, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch):
+    def test_default_static_files_path(self, tmp_path: Path, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch):
         """Test that the default path is the packaged static dir."""
         import nmp.studio
 
         expected = Path(nmp.studio.__file__).parent / "static"
         service = StudioService()
         monkeypatch.setattr(service, "_source_static_files_path", lambda: None)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(service, "_container_static_files_path", lambda: tmp_path / "absent")
         path = service._get_static_files_path()
         assert path == expected
 
@@ -296,15 +297,59 @@ def test_source_dist_used_when_packaged_static_missing(self, tmp_path: Path, mon
         service = StudioService()
         monkeypatch.chdir(source_root)
         monkeypatch.setattr(service, "_packaged_static_files_path", lambda: packaged_static)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(service, "_container_static_files_path", lambda: tmp_path / "absent")
 
         path = service._get_static_files_path()
         assert path == studio_dir / "dist"
 
+    def test_container_bundle_used_when_packaged_static_missing(self, tmp_path: Path, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch):
+        """Test that the container image bundle is used when nothing is configured or packaged."""
+        container_static = tmp_path / "static" / "studio"
+        container_static.mkdir(parents=True)
+        (container_static / "index.html").write_text("<html></html>")
+
+        service = StudioService()
+        monkeypatch.setattr(service, "_packaged_static_files_path", lambda: tmp_path / "package-static")
+        monkeypatch.setattr(service, "_container_static_files_path", lambda: container_static)
+
+        assert service._get_static_files_path() == container_static
+
+    def test_configured_path_wins_over_container_bundle(self, tmp_path: Path, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch):
+        """Test that an operator's configured path is never shadowed by the container bundle."""
+        container_static = tmp_path / "static" / "studio"
+        container_static.mkdir(parents=True)
+        (container_static / "index.html").write_text("<html></html>")
+        configured = tmp_path / "operator-static"
+        configured.mkdir()
+        (configured / "index.html").write_text("<html></html>")
+
+        service = StudioService().with_config(StudioConfig(static_files_path=configured))
+        monkeypatch.setattr(service, "_container_static_files_path", lambda: container_static)
+
+        assert service._get_static_files_path() == configured
+
+    def test_default_container_static_files_path(self):
+        """Test that the container fallback matches where the images place the bundle."""
+        assert StudioService()._container_static_files_path() == Path("/static/studio")
+
+    def test_env_static_files_path_shadows_the_config_file(self, tmp_path: Path, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch):
+        """ServiceConfig is environment-first, so images must not bake NMP_STUDIO_STATIC_FILES_PATH."""
+        from nmp.common.config import Configuration
+
+        monkeypatch.setenv("NMP_STUDIO_STATIC_FILES_PATH", str(tmp_path / "from-env"))
+
+        config = Configuration.global_settings_to_service_config(
+            {"studio": {"static_files_path": str(tmp_path / "from-yaml")}}, StudioConfig
+        )
+
+        assert config.static_files_path == tmp_path / "from-env"
+
     def test_missing_static_files_route_explains_recovery(self, tmp_path: Path, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch):
         """Test that missing Studio assets return recovery instructions instead of a bare 404."""
         missing_static = tmp_path / "missing-static"
         service = StudioService()
         monkeypatch.setattr(service, "_get_static_files_path", lambda: missing_static)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(service, "_source_static_files_path", lambda: tmp_path / "web-dist")
         app = FastAPI()
 
         service.configure_app(app)
@@ -327,6 +372,7 @@ def test_missing_static_files_route_handles_main_studio_path(self, tmp_path: Pat
         missing_static = tmp_path / "missing-static"
         service = StudioService()
         monkeypatch.setattr(service, "_get_static_files_path", lambda: missing_static)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(service, "_source_static_files_path", lambda: tmp_path / "web-dist")
         app = FastAPI()
 
         service.configure_app(app)
@@ -340,12 +386,35 @@ def test_missing_static_files_route_handles_main_studio_path(self, tmp_path: Pat
         assert "make bootstrap-studio" in response.text
         assert "nemo services restart" in response.text
 
+    def test_missing_static_files_route_omits_build_tips_outside_a_checkout(
+        self, tmp_path: Path, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch
+    ):
+        """Test that packaged installs get a docs pointer instead of repo build steps."""
+        missing_static = tmp_path / "missing-static"
+        service = StudioService()
+        monkeypatch.setattr(service, "_get_static_files_path", lambda: missing_static)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(service, "_source_static_files_path", lambda: None)
+        app = FastAPI()
+
+        service.configure_app(app)
+
+        client = TestClient(app)
+        response = client.get("/studio/")
+
+        assert response.status_code == 503
+        assert "https://docs.nvidia.com/nemo-platform" in response.text
+        assert "make bootstrap-studio" not in response.text
+        assert "nvm" not in response.text
+        assert "NMP_STUDIO_STATIC_FILES_PATH" not in response.text
+        assert str(missing_static) in response.text
+
     def test_static_dir_without_index_route_explains_recovery(self, tmp_path: Path, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch):
         """Test that an incomplete Studio build also returns recovery instructions."""
         incomplete_static = tmp_path / "static"
         incomplete_static.mkdir()
         service = StudioService()
         monkeypatch.setattr(service, "_get_static_files_path", lambda: incomplete_static)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(service, "_source_static_files_path", lambda: tmp_path / "web-dist")
         app = FastAPI()
 
         service.configure_app(app)