metalab: SPACE shipping container office

‘SPACE’ by metalab, houston, texas, USA all images courtesy of metalab

houston-based practice metalab in collaboration with the university of houston has designed and begun manufacture of ‘SPACE’, a prototypical off-grid field office for the company adaptive container. an acronym for ‘solar powered adaptive containers for everyone’, the unit is a reused shipping container with a fold out solar rack system with 20 panels on the roof. supporting rapid deployment, the 20 panels may be folded inward for efficient delivery allowing the flexible space to serve as a self-sustained first response center, emergency relief office, remote check point, park rangers station, etc. the mobile and secure structure may host day-to-day work environments with climate-controlled interiors which doubles as a protective shelter during severe weather events.

a beta unit was produced to test its independent production capabilities, proving its ability to serve as a generator for aid stations during a power loss situation caused by a gulf coast hurricane. the containers are prefabricated within a nearby facility, campo sheet metal, and then delivered to their site. 

installed on the university of houston campus

PV solar panel

office interior

campo sheet metal, the fabrication center in houston

production floor for the container units

additional containers stacked for future use

container assembly within the factory

container mounted upon truck hitch

ready for delivery

delivery to the site

installation on-site

(left) container within context (right) PV detail

project info:

container size: 28’ l x 8’ w x 11’-6” h (outside dimensions with PV rack folded in) interior space: 140 sq ft. with 8’ ceilings weight: 13,000 lbs. power consumption: 1500 w (with a/c, lighting and power outlets in full operation) = 5 kwh/day or 156 kwh/month solar power production: 2700 w (full sun)  =  11.65 kwh/day  or  350 kwh/month battery backup capacity: 3-4 days