Local Studio

Local Studio repurposes actual shipping containers as housing. A new 18-unit complex has opened in downtown Phoenix.

A new apartment complex made of shipping containers opened up in downtown Phoenix. The builder says the 18-unit apartment building on Third and McKinley streets is the largest of its kind in all of North America. 

Local Studio, the company behind the building’s design, repurposes actual shipping containers as housing.

One concern that may come to mind with buildings made of metal are the summer temperatures. The builder says the homes deflect desert heat by the steel’s high albedo, which means it releases heat very quickly, combined with closed cell foam for high insulation — all of that resulting in low utility costs.

The complex also features solar-shaded sidewalk canopies.