S.I. Container Builds Blog
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Shipping Container Buildings (And Why They’re Changing the Way We Build).
If you’ve ever wondered whether shipping container buildings are durable, affordable, sustainable, or just a trend — you’re not alone. At SI Container Builds, we hear the same questions every day: How strong are they? Are they code-compliant? Can they really be beautiful? The answer is yes — and so much more. From single-container ADUs to large-scale commercial and residential projects, container construction is redefining what’s possible in modern building. Here’s everything you need to know before starting your own container project.
Episode 380: Innovation in Modular Housing With Rory Rubin
Straight Up Chicago Investor, Podcast with Rory Rubin
Constructing Hope: How Recycled Steel is Building a Sustainable Housing Legacy | Rory Rubin
From Social Worker to Steel Innovator: Rory Rubin is Reshaping Communities with Recycled Shipping Containers. Podcast with Jen Porter.
Sustainable Transportation Integration
Many parts of Chicagoland are car-dependent which contributes to carbon emissions and air pollution. A well-planned container home community can integrate with public transit options, biking paths, and electric vehicle infrastructure.
Long-stalled Navy Pier marina opens
The privately funded marina on the north side of the pier will welcome its inaugural group of boaters June 14.
The Containerized Amenities House Is Being Assembled At Navy Pier Marina
Yimby article about the Navy Pier marina.
Navy Pier Marina Set to Open
May 20, 2025—WGN9 TV Lourdes Duarte & Andrew Schroedter, Navy Pier Marina
Community-Based Resource Sharing
The community can reduce overall energy & water use and results in an additional 0.5-1 ton of CO2 savings per home annually.
Episode 77: UnContained, How One Manufacturer is Helping to Change the Way Chicago Builds
Rory Rubin, founder and CEO of S.I. Container Builds, shares her journey from clinical social worker to modular construction innovator.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — S.I. CONTAINER BUILDS’ Modular Shipping Container Marina Building Installed at Navy Pier Marina, Marking Major Construction Milestone
The modular centerpiece of the new Navy Pier Marina has officially arrived. On May 28, 2025, S.I. Container Builds—a Chicago-based, woman-owned modular construction company—will open the installation of the shipping container-based marina building at Navy Pier, marking a key milestone in the development of the city’s newest waterfront destination.
Modular’s The Magic To Make Workforce Housing Work
Workbnb partners with an engineered manufacturing incubator mHUB and S.I. Container Builds to deliver net-zero, climate-resilient, solar-powered container homes for workers.
Localized Resilience to Chicago's Extreme Weather
Chicago is subject to a range of extreme weather events. S.I. Container Builds' shipping container homes are designed to withstand very harsh weather conditions.
Busting Myths: Old Stereotypes About Shipping Container Homes That No Longer Hold Up
S.I. Container Builds' shipping container homes are the future of offsight modular construction. Here's why.
DECODE THE CODE
The CSC Plate, or Container Safety Convention Plate, is an internationally recognized safety certification affixed to a shipping container, indicating that it meets structural and safety standards for transporting cargo, what it carried, and that it was ONLY SHIPPED ONCE.
Adaptive Use of Vacant Urban Land
Chicago has many underutilized or vacant lots. Building container home communities will revitalize neighborhoods without contributing to urban sprawl.
Affordable, Climate-Resilient Housing
An energy-efficient home uses 20-30% less energy, saving about 2-3 tons of CO2 per home annually.
Energy Efficiency & Renewable Power
A container home can reduce heating & cooling needs by 30-50%, potentially saving 3-5 tons of CO2 per home annually. Installing solar panels further offset 4-6 tons of CO2 annually per home.
David Doig with Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives & Joel Hamernick from The Couch House Solutions Group Visit S.I. Container Builds
We were honored to host David Doig and Joel Hamernick at our Buffalo Grove, IL warehouse on March 17th, 2025.
