The Drawing Board: “Epic” Creative Co-Op made from recycled shipping containers

by Jonathan McGaha | December 7, 2010 12:00 am

The epic software group inc. is building a 4,000 square foot (372m2) video production studio in The Woodlands, Texas, directly behind the company’s current location. Epic is a 20-year-old award winning 3D animation, multimedia and web development company that has experienced strong growth over the past two years.

“What will truly make this building unique is its intended use, its innovative design and the materials we will use to construct it,” said Vic Cherubini, President of epic.
In addition to a 28-foot (9-m) by 44-foot (13-m) green screen studio, the building will have enough room for several tenants. The anchor tenant is Conroe, Texas-based Silver Rock Productions, who will occupy approximately 50 percent of the space.

“This will be our new home and the largest video production studio in the area. It will allow us to shoot special effects, build larger sets and offer new and expanded services in a studio that we are designing from the ground up,” said Michael Huffine, partner at Silver Rock Productions. Epic intends to lease the other space in the building to companies allied to their business. Specifically, they are talking with web developers, writers, artists, animators, programmers and photographers about the three units that are available.

“We are calling it the epic Creative Co-Op and the concept will be a one-stop shop for companies needing creative services for sales and training purposes,” said Cherubini.

The building is also like no other in the area. The structure will be built primarily from recycled shipping containers destined for the scrap yard. When a retired shipping container is used for building purposes it is called an ISBU, or an Intermodal Steel Building Unit. It is estimated that the U.S. imports 7 million cargo containers each year and exports just 2 million. Port cities like Houston find themselves with an oversupply of containers, so the “upcycling” of these units not only benefits the environment, but results in extremely strong hurricane resistant structures.

Epic is also incorporating other types of recycled or low-cost materials in the building. When the organization finds gently used or excess building materials they buy them-usually at a deep discount. As the word spreads about what the company is doing, they continue to receive calls from contractors selling everything from used cabinets, to companies with excess inventories of building materials for sale at liquidation prices.

Building a commercial structure out of 8-foot by 40-foot by 9 ½
-foot (3-m) containers is a challenge because the building must still meet all the same permitting codes that a traditional commercial building requires. To help make it aesthetically appealing, epic is working with architects Jasleen Sarai and Preetal Shah of ShapeSpace. Ron Saikowski, PE, is doing the engineering work on the building, and the mechanical drawings are by Wally Westbrook Designs. The construction project managers are David and Truman Cox of Pinnacle Residential Group. Together with the artists at epic, the building should appeal to the creative nature of those who will inhabit and visit it. All of the team members are located in or around The Woodlands (Houston), Texas area.

“I want people to be excited and inspired each day when they come to this unique new space,” said Cherubini.

As for other materials to be incorporated into the building, Cherubini said epic will be using a significant amount of R-panel, perlins, wire rope and steel beams along with some ornamental iron, but they have not yet determined who they would be working with as far as suppliers for these materials.

“As a video production company, we are trying to work out creative trade agreements with our vendors who need video, photography, or other interactive media for their products and services,” said Cherubini. “This has worked out really well for all.”

Occupancy is tentatively planned for Jan. 1, 2011. At the time of press, the land was cleared and foundation was being laid out. The company is sharing information on everything it learns from the project so others looking to build with cargo containers will benefit from their experience. If you would like to follow epic’s progress on the Creative Co-Op, check out the blog on their website at www.epicsoftware.com[1].

Source URL: https://www.metalarchitecture.com/articles/the-drawing-board/

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