As we noted in our previous blog about shipping containers being used for student housing at Fisk University, the constant growth of higher education enrollment means these institutes have to explore alternative options to building traditional dormitories. While there are quite a few options available, such as housing students in hotels and traditional buildings, these solutions can come with exorbitant costs, lengthy timelines, or in some cases, both. A custom solution may be the best route depending on the needs of the institution. This is where shipping container dorms come into play.
The Rise in Enrollment
In the next 20 years, the number of students enrolled in higher education is expected to double! As more and more of the middle class enter higher education, they will need cost effective student housing to give them a comfortable and secure place to live and study. These numbers do not even account for internationally mobile students who will not be looking for a permanent place to stay. Our compact and functional shipping container dorms are excellent solutions. Using shipping container dorms ensures your student housing needs can grow alongside the growth of enrollment. As long as you have the land to place the container on, we can work through the build and delivery in a fraction of the time it would take for a traditional build and at a fraction of the cost to house students in hotels.
Bob’s Container Dorms
Our container dorms are designed and built for efficiency, comfort, and low maintenance. We utilize cutting-edge materials such as LitePan in the interior while leaving the container exterior to be painted the color of your choice. You can elect to purchase ADA and non-ADA versions as well as units with or without kitchenettes. We have solutions to fit every need and can create a custom package for you based on your specific needs as well. Each of our standard model shipping container dorms is built with 40 ft shipping containers. This allows us to create two living spaces within each container. From there it is up to you to decide on accessibility and other needs for your students. We can also mix and match units if you only want a few to be ADA-compliant, for instance. In the end, if you are considering housing your students in a shipping container dorm, Bob’s Containers can help explore solutions. Schedule your meeting with a container tech or give us a call today to start exploring options together.
Bob’s Containers Process
Bob’s Containers is proud to be a pioneer of innovation. We are always looking for ways to optimize our build timelines and offer the most cost effective housing solutions for people just like you. We start by conducting an exploratory call where we learn about what you are looking for. Once we have a clear picture of your needs, we will determine if shipping containers are a good fit for your needs. If the answer is yes, we will then create a custom quote for you based directly on the needs we discussed previously. Once we acquire your deposit, we get the project started and that’s where the real fun begins.
For our build process, we have implemented the agile methodology that is typically used in web development. This was an easy transition with most of our employees having knowledge of web development. This method of project management breaks larger projects into smaller chunks to help each project move more quickly. We are long past the days of handing a build team a spec sheet and hoping they get it all done in time. Having a team of professionals execute each of their respective specialties leads to better results, more quickly. For example, we have our team of interior finish experts who fit into the fold as soon as the framing is done. The agile project management process is our “secret” weapon to keep our build timelines as low as possible.
Benefits of Shipping Containers as Student Housing
As noted above, shipping containers provide excellent solutions in comparison to traditional builds that can take years to complete. Shipping container student housing units can be produced in as little as a few weeks. When evaluating timelines and overall cost, this shortened timeline can cut your costs drastically. Another benefit of using shipping containers for student housing is minimal upkeep. These units are designed to be energy efficient and easy to maintain. Each piece needing to be maintained can be in the same spot on every unit, depending on your design needs. This makes maintenance as easy as possible by eliminating redundancies.
We love talking through potential solutions even if we may not end up being a good fit, so if you are interested in the process as a whole, schedule your meeting to discuss further.