This unbuilt project proposes the development of Mid City Studio’s office facilities as an example of a socially, economically, and environmentally conscious infill development while fulfilling its mission to build community, strengthen existing neighborhoods, and advocate for sustainable growth. The proposal deploys shipping containers converted into office, workshop, and indoor / outdoor meeting and community spaces on a vacant property in one of Mid City’s neighborhoods.

Objectives

-  Activate vacant site through modular office and workshop space
-  Create communal spaces, work with the neighborhood to generate programming
-  Lease space to organizations, businesses for social and financial sustainability
-  Require partners to host community-oriented events and programming on site
-  Develop the project in phases to make it affordable and sustainable long-term
-  Creatively nurture social / economic capacity of the neighborhood
-  Attract investors to this non-traditional infill model

Program

The program includes three shipping containers (office space, workshop space, and community space) and public community space between them. An overhead structure will protect outdoor spaces from rain and spatially connect the containers, while a deck or other pervious material will connect everything on the ground.