ICView Magazine

A few years ago, Rory Rubin ’92 began noticing an abundance of abandoned shipping containers across the United States and Canada, and she wondered if something could be done to repurpose the incredibly durable structures.

Rubin spent time researching how other countries repurposed them, transforming them into beautiful, livable spaces. Two years later, Rubin’s thoughts grew into her own construction company, S.I. Container Builds. Founded with her husband, Dan, and another business partner, the company takes one-trip shipping containers and turns them into affordable, sustainable living spaces that leave minimal carbon footprints without compromising quality.

“My husband and I will be empty nesters in the next few years and feel that it is our obligation—personally and professionally—to try to be more sustainable and make other people’s lives easier, even in little ways,” Rubin said.

Rubin studied psychology and art history at IC before getting a master’s degree in social administration from Case Western University. But she’s always had an interest in design and construction, thanks to her father, who was an architect, and she is grateful she got the chance to tap into that passion.

“I needed to figure out how to pair my interests, my skills, my values, and direct my own life,” she said. “It may seem like a stretch to start this type of business, but when you think about it, it’s all about relationships, drive, management, and passion. It’s provided me with the opportunities to see architecture again, enjoy something different, and learn a whole bunch of new skills.”

S.I. Container Builds (the company was previously called Sustainable Imprints) has three different models: studio spaces, backyard offices, and container suites. Every unit uses as many ecofriendly materials from local suppliers as possible and is built based on the International Building Code.

One common use for the containers is as affordable living spaces for a grandparent or adult child, or to provide supplemental income as a vacation home or short-term rental on any property. Containers can be placed on land anywhere from a structured pier foundation to directly on the ground, and they can be used for years with minimal wear and tear.

“It was clear there is a tremendous housing crisis and our company could help support the need for affordable and convenient dwellings in a backyard or on a piece of land,” Rubin said. “These spaces have increased people’s housing values immediately, creating a positive return on investment.”