CollectionBuilder is an open source project for building digital collection and exhibit websites driven by metadata, hosted on lightweight infrastructure, and powered by modern static web technology. Developed by the University of Idaho Library to provide a viable alternative to bloated infrastructure systems, CollectionBuilder aims to lower the barriers for development and deployment of digital collection sites, while upholding the unique values and perspectives of GLAM institutions. Our approach shifts energy away from clicking buttons on DAMS platform interfaces, and back on creating the clean, polished metadata and objects fundamental to digital libraries–building collections as data.