diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 16ecd65e1..0a7848506 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -55,3 +55,13 @@ coverage/
 shell/bin/linux
 shell/bin/darwin
 shell/bin/win32
+
+shell/scripts/bin
+shell/scripts/build
+
+dist/darwin
+dist/linux
+dist/windows
+dist/*.dmg
+dist/*.tar.gz
+dist/*.exe
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 1ec1f5809..b7ddb314a 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -88,6 +88,19 @@ Once this script has completed, you can launch the shell-based Copay by running:
 npm run shell
 ```
 
+## Building Native Shell Binaries/Installers (OSX)
+
+```
+npm run dist
+```
+
+This script will download atom shell binaries and combine them with Copay sources
+to build a DMG for osx-x64, an installer EXE for win32, and a .tar.gz for linux-x64.
+It was developed to be run on OSX.  The outputs are copied to the dist directory.
+
+DMG is created with hdiutil
+EXE is created with makensis (brew install makensis)
+
 ## Tests
 
 Open test/index.html in your browser to test the models. Install and run karma
diff --git a/dist/README.md b/dist/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1d883f95d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dist/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+This is the destination directory for the built atom-shell binaries and the files used to create them
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 3bbbc4c45..1e943a55b 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -25,7 +25,8 @@
     "shell": "node shell/scripts/launch.js",
     "setup-shell": "node shell/scripts/download-atom-shell.js",
     "chrome": "source browser-extensions/chrome/build.sh",
-    "firefox": "source browser-extensions/firefox/build.sh"
+    "firefox": "source browser-extensions/firefox/build.sh",
+    "dist": "node shell/scripts/dist.js"
   },
   "homepage": "https://github.com/bitpay/copay",
   "devDependencies": {
diff --git a/shell/README.md b/shell/README.md
index 970f9882d..36c1408e4 100644
--- a/shell/README.md
+++ b/shell/README.md
@@ -8,4 +8,5 @@ using [Atom Shell](https://github.com/atom/atom-shell).
 
 ## Building
 
-Automated build scripts are currently being developed.
+Run from the top level (copay) directory:
+npm run dist
diff --git a/shell/index.js b/shell/index.js
index 4f9f5abf8..71e4543c9 100644
--- a/shell/index.js
+++ b/shell/index.js
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ module.exports = function(copay) {
 
   // quit when all windows are closed
   app.on('window-all-closed', function() {
-    if (process.platform !== 'darwin') app.quit();
+    app.quit();
   });
 
   // initilization when ready
diff --git a/shell/scripts/dist.js b/shell/scripts/dist.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1555dbe70
--- /dev/null
+++ b/shell/scripts/dist.js
@@ -0,0 +1,181 @@
+require('shelljs/global');
+var color   = require('cli-color');
+
+var download = require('./lib/download')();
+var async = require('async');
+
+var atom_version = 'v0.13.0';
+
+var app_root = './';
+
+var build_dir = 'shell/scripts/build';
+var dist_dir = 'dist';
+
+var darwin_app_dir = '/Copay.app/Contents/Resources/app';
+var linux_app_dir = '/resources/app';
+var windows_app_dir = '/resources/app';
+
+console.log(color.blue('{copay}'), '');
+console.log(color.blue('{copay}'), 'Preparing to build Copay binaries');
+console.log(color.blue('{copay}'), '');
+
+/* Clean up before the build */
+rm('-rf', build_dir);
+rm(dist_dir + '/Copay*');
+rm('-rf', dist_dir + '/darwin', dist_dir + '/linux', dist_dir + '/windows');
+
+// Download the atom shell binaries.  If you exceed your download quota,
+// just download the zips manually and unpack them into shell/scripts/bin/<platform>
+async.series([
+  function(callback) {
+    download.atom(atom_version, 'darwin', 'x64', callback);
+  },
+  function(callback){
+    download.atom(atom_version, 'linux', 'x64', callback);
+  },
+  function(callback) {
+    download.atom(atom_version, 'win32', 'ia32', callback);
+  },
+  function() {
+    runBuild();
+  }]);
+
+function runBuild() {
+
+  mkdir(build_dir);
+
+  /* DARWIN BUILD */
+
+  console.log(color.blue('{copay}'), '');
+  console.log(color.blue('{copay}'), 'Starting DARWIN build');
+  console.log(color.blue('{copay}'), '');
+
+  // Copy the core atom shell
+  cp('-r', app_root + '/shell/scripts/bin/darwin/*', build_dir);
+  mv(build_dir + '/Atom.app', build_dir + '/Copay.app');
+  mv(build_dir + '/Copay.app/Contents/MacOS/Atom', build_dir + '/Copay.app/Contents/MacOS/Copay');
+
+  // Replace Atom darwin assets with Copay assets
+  cp(app_root + '/shell/assets/darwin/copay.icns', build_dir + '/Copay.app/Contents/Resources/copay.icns');
+  cp('-f', app_root + '/shell/assets/darwin/Info.plist', build_dir + '/Copay.app/Contents/Info.plist');
+  rm(build_dir + '/Copay.app/Contents/Resources/atom.icns');
+
+  // Copy Copay sources
+  cp('-r', app_root + '/css', build_dir + darwin_app_dir);
+  cp('-r', app_root + '/js', build_dir + darwin_app_dir);
+  cp('-r', app_root + '/font', build_dir + darwin_app_dir);
+  cp('-r', app_root + '/img', build_dir + darwin_app_dir);
+  cp('-r', app_root + '/lib', build_dir + darwin_app_dir);
+  cp('-r', app_root + '/sound', build_dir + darwin_app_dir);
+  cp('-r', app_root + '/shell/*.js*', build_dir + darwin_app_dir + '/shell');
+  cp('-r', app_root + '/shell/lib/*', build_dir + darwin_app_dir + '/shell/lib');
+  cp(app_root + '*.js', build_dir + darwin_app_dir);
+  cp(app_root + '*.json', build_dir + darwin_app_dir);
+  cp(app_root + '*.html', build_dir + darwin_app_dir);
+
+  // Copay needs express, put other node deps here if you need any
+  cp('-r', app_root + '/node_modules/express', build_dir + darwin_app_dir + "/node_modules");
+
+  // Clean up extra Atom sources
+  rm('-r', build_dir + darwin_app_dir + '/../*.lproj');
+  rm('-r', build_dir + darwin_app_dir + '/../default_app');
+
+  mkdir('-p', app_root + '/dist/darwin');
+  cp('-r', app_root + build_dir + '/*', app_root + '/dist/darwin/');
+  rm('-rf', app_root + build_dir + '/*');
+
+  console.log(color.blue('{copay}'), 'Copied files to ' + 'dist/darwin');
+
+  if (which('hdiutil') != null) {
+    cd(app_root + '/dist/darwin');
+    exec('ln -s /Applications Applications');
+    exec('hdiutil create ../Copay-darwin-x64.dmg -volname "Copay Installer - Drag Copay to Applications Folder" -fs HFS+ -srcfolder "."');
+    exec("rm Applications");
+    cd('../..');
+  }
+
+  /* Linux Build */
+
+  console.log(color.blue('{copay}'), '');
+  console.log(color.blue('{copay}'), 'Starting LINUX build');
+  console.log(color.blue('{copay}'), '');
+
+  // Copy the core atom shell
+  cp('-r', app_root + '/shell/scripts/bin/linux/*', build_dir);
+  mv(build_dir + '/atom', build_dir + '/Copay');
+
+  // Copy Copay sources
+  cp('-r', app_root + '/css', build_dir + linux_app_dir);
+  cp('-r', app_root + '/js', build_dir + linux_app_dir);
+  cp('-r', app_root + '/font', build_dir + linux_app_dir);
+  cp('-r', app_root + '/img', build_dir + linux_app_dir);
+  cp('-r', app_root + '/lib', build_dir + linux_app_dir);
+  cp('-r', app_root + '/sound', build_dir + linux_app_dir);
+  cp('-r', app_root + '/shell/*.js*', build_dir + linux_app_dir + '/shell');
+  cp('-r', app_root + '/shell/lib/*', build_dir + linux_app_dir + '/shell/lib');
+  cp(app_root + '*.js', build_dir + linux_app_dir);
+  cp(app_root + '*.json', build_dir + linux_app_dir);
+  cp(app_root + '*.html', build_dir + linux_app_dir);
+
+  cp('-r', app_root + '/node_modules/express', build_dir + linux_app_dir + "/node_modules");
+
+  // Clean up extra Atom sources
+  rm('-r', build_dir + linux_app_dir + '/../default_app');
+  cp('-r', app_root + build_dir + '/*', app_root + '/dist/linux');
+  rm('-rf', app_root + build_dir + '/*');
+
+  exec('tar czf ./dist/Copay-linux-x64.tar.gz -C ./dist/linux .');
+
+  console.log(color.blue('{copay}'), 'Copied files to ' + 'dist/linux');
+
+  /* Windows Build */
+
+  console.log(color.blue('{copay}'), '');
+  console.log(color.blue('{copay}'), 'Starting WIN32 build');
+  console.log(color.blue('{copay}'), '');
+
+  // Copy the core atom shell
+  cp('-r', app_root + '/shell/scripts/bin/win32/*', build_dir);
+  mv(build_dir + '/atom.exe', build_dir + '/Copay.exe');
+
+  // Copy Copay sources
+  cp('-r', app_root + '/css', build_dir + windows_app_dir);
+  cp('-r', app_root + '/js', build_dir + windows_app_dir);
+  cp('-r', app_root + '/font', build_dir + windows_app_dir);
+  cp('-r', app_root + '/img', build_dir + windows_app_dir);
+  cp('-r', app_root + '/lib', build_dir + windows_app_dir);
+  cp('-r', app_root + '/sound', build_dir + windows_app_dir);
+  cp('-r', app_root + '/shell/*.js*', build_dir + windows_app_dir + '/shell');
+  cp('-r', app_root + '/shell/lib/*', build_dir + windows_app_dir + '/shell/lib');
+  cp(app_root + '*.js', build_dir + windows_app_dir);
+  cp(app_root + '*.json', build_dir + windows_app_dir);
+  cp(app_root + '*.html', build_dir + windows_app_dir);
+
+  cp('-r', app_root + '/node_modules/express', build_dir + windows_app_dir + "/node_modules");
+
+  cp(app_root + "/shell/assets/win32/*", build_dir);
+
+  rm('-r', build_dir + windows_app_dir + '/../default_app');
+
+  mkdir('-p', app_root + '/dist/windows');
+  cp('-r', app_root + build_dir + '/*', app_root + '/dist/windows/');
+
+  rm('-rf', app_root + build_dir + '/*');
+
+  console.log(color.blue('{copay}'), 'Copied files to ' + 'dist/windows');
+
+
+  // generating windows installer requires makensis
+  // install on OSX with "brew install makensis"
+  if (which('makensis') != null) {
+    console.log(color.blue('{copay}'), 'Running NSIS to generate win32 installer');
+    cd('dist/windows');
+    exec('makensis -V2 build-installer.nsi');
+    cd("../../");
+    cp('dist/windows/copay-setup.exe', app_root + '/dist/Copay-setup-win32.exe')
+  }
+
+  console.log(color.blue('{copay}'));
+  console.log(color.blue('{copay}'), 'BUILD COMPLETE');
+  console.log(color.blue('{copay}'), 'Files can be found in the dist directory');
+}
diff --git a/shell/scripts/lib/download.js b/shell/scripts/lib/download.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d13f692a6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/shell/scripts/lib/download.js
@@ -0,0 +1,104 @@
+var path    = require('path');
+var fs      = require('fs');
+var GitHub  = require('github-releases');
+var async   = require('async');
+var readl   = require('readline');
+var color   = require('cli-color');
+var github  = new GitHub({ repo: 'atom/atom-shell' });
+var exec    = require('child_process').exec;
+var os      = require('os');
+
+var Static = function() {
+
+  return {
+    atom: function(version, platform, arch, callback) {
+      var targetRoot = path.normalize(__dirname + '/../bin/'),
+        target  = path.normalize(__dirname + '/../bin/' + platform);
+
+      console.log(color.blue('{copay}'), 'Downloading atom-shell ' + version + ' ' + platform + '-' + arch);
+
+      if(!fs.existsSync(targetRoot)) {
+        fs.mkdirSync(targetRoot);
+      }
+
+      if (!fs.existsSync(target)) {
+        fs.mkdirSync(target);  
+      } else {
+        console.log(color.blue('{copay}'), platform + '-' + arch + ' ' + ' already downloaded');
+        callback.call(this, null);
+        return;
+      }
+      
+      
+
+      console.log(color.blue('{copay}'), 'getting atom-shell release ' + version);
+
+      github.getReleases({ tag_name: version }, function(err, releases) {
+        var filename = 'atom-shell-' + version + '-' + platform + '-' + arch + '.zip';
+
+        if (err || !releases.length) {
+          console.log(err);
+          return console.log(color.blue('{copay}'), 'Release not found');
+        }
+
+        console.log(color.blue('{copay}'), 'looking for prebuilt binary ' + filename);
+
+        for (var a = 0; a < releases[0].assets.length; a++) {
+          var asset = releases[0].assets[a];
+
+          if (asset.name === filename) {
+
+            console.log(color.blue('{copay}'), 'downloading ' + asset.name);
+
+            var rl = readl.createInterface({
+              input: process.stdin,
+              output: process.stdout
+            });
+
+            rl.write('      bytes received: 0');
+
+            return github.downloadAsset(asset, function(err, inStream) {
+              if (err) {
+                console.log(err);
+                process.exit();
+              }
+
+              var bytes = 0;
+
+              inStream.on('data', function(chunk) {
+                rl.write(null, { ctrl: true, name: 'u' });
+                rl.write('      bytes received: ' + (bytes + chunk.length));
+                bytes += chunk.length;
+              });
+
+              inStream.on('end', function() {
+                rl.close();
+                console.log('');
+                console.log(color.blue('{copay}'), 'downloaded!');
+              });
+
+              var out       = target;
+              var tmp       = os.tmpDir() + '/atom-shell.zip';
+              var outStream = fs.createWriteStream(tmp);
+
+              outStream.on('finish', function() {
+                console.log(color.blue('{copay}'), 'unzipping archive');
+                exec('unzip -o ' + tmp + ' -d ' + out, function(err, stdout, stderr) {
+                  console.log(err || stderr || (color.blue('{copay}') + ' done!'))
+                  callback.call(this, null);
+                });
+              });
+
+              inStream.pipe(outStream);
+
+            });
+          }
+        }
+
+      });
+
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+module.exports = Static;