Building with Shipping Containers

With an abundant supply of containers at the Houston Ship Channel, they are now being recycled and integrated into new home construction within the loop.

This luxurious custom home development near the intersection of Gibson and Jackson Hill incorporates more than a dozen containers within its structure.

The containers, properly called inter-modal steel building units (ISBUs) are familiar to almost everyone. They are traditionally manufactured in two sizes – 20′ x 8′ x 8′ and 40′ x 8′ x 8′ and can be incorporated into designs to be the building blocks of a much larger structure as this one on Gibson.

Key benefits of the recycling shipping containers into new construction housing:

• Readily available due to US shipping imbalance
• Manufactured of heavy-gauge Corten steel
• Water-proof and fire resistant
• Impervious to the nature’s elements on both land and sea
• Able to be stacked 9 high to build multi-level structures
• New alternative to structural wood framing
• Multiple containers may be arranged in a countless number of designs
• Quicker build time and less trades needed during construction

Container housing is certainly not a new concept, as its been used in Europe and Mexico to construct pre-fab homes as well as low income shelters for those in need. Look for more to be built in the Houston area in the coming years.