Shipping containers increasingly being used to create affordable housing
NEW YORK: Shipping containers are increasingly forming the basis of low cost housing projects around the world.
Merriman Anderson/Architects has designed some of Dallas’ largest historic building restorations, and the Dallas architect has done new buildings in downtown’s East Quarter development and the suburbs.
But the firm’s latest project required thinking outside the box.
It’s an apartment complex made out of shipping containers in southeast Dallas.
Merriman Anderson/Architects teamed up with local firm CitySquare Housing to design the Lomax Container Housing Project on South Malcolm X Boulevard. Construction is set to start early this year.
The 19, one-bedroom affordable housing units are made out of repurposed 300-square-foot shipping containers.
The compact rental units have a living area located in front of a kitchen, a bathroom and a single bedroom.
The unique apartment units will be rented starting at about $906 a month including utilities and are restricted to residents earning 60% or less of the area median income.
“We are proud to be involved with such a unique project and support a philanthropic effort by CitySquare Housing,” the president of Merriman Anderson/Architects, Milton Anderson, said in a statement.
Merriman Anderson and CitySquare Housing plan to use the project as a prototype for larger affordable housing communities with 100 to 130 units each to be built around Dallas.
Falcon Structures. Summit Consultants, Hunt & Joiner, RLG Consulting Engineers, IntroSpec and Studio Outside also participated in the project.
CitySquare Housing is a Dallas nonprofit that works to combat poverty and to promote affordable housing.
