Medea Creek Middle School

Image courtesy of HED. Photography by Eric Staudenmaier

One person’s trash is another person’s treasure

One person’s trash is another person’s treasure, as is demonstrated by the recent use of shipping containers as viable building components. The metal shipping containers, which were once loaded with goods and transported to world ports on cargo ships, are being upcycled into school buildings. There are a variety of benefits in selecting this solution for replacing aging structures on school campuses, not the least of which is a reduction of embodied carbon tied to new construction, as is demonstrated on the Medea Creek Middle School project.

Medea Creek Middle School

In 2013 Oak Park Unified School District (OPUSD), a small school district in Southern California, had limited resources and a need to replace aging campus infrastructure on two of their campuses. The district’s architectural consultant at that time proposed a creative solution at Oak Park High School using shipping containers repurposed into classroom modules.

The inherent voluminous space of these containers offered great design flexibility for the project, and the ability to move these structures efficiently to the site made them ideal for use in construction while minimizing costs. Factory fabrication eliminated delays due to weather and unforeseen site conditions. The design team utilized the Division of the State Architect (DSA) pre-check approval process for the shipping containers, further streamlining the approval process. The containers were outfitted with efficient ductless mini-split HVAC systems, all necessary wiring and electrical equipment (switches, receptacles, fixtures and trim), plumbing equipment other than water closets, and finishes other than flooring before they were shipped to the site. Cool membrane roofing, windows, doors, and casework were also installed at the factory. The units arrived at the site 80–90 percent complete and the final assembly, utility connections were completed on site.  While fabrication occurred, the general contractor prepared the site such as grading, utilities, site drainage, and foundation which significantly shortened the overall schedule.

The success at Oak Park High School encouraged the district to repeat the process again at Medea Creek Middle School in 2021. Utilizing a design and construction team comprised of HED, CRATE Modular Company, and Balfour Beatty for this new project, the District purchased several shipping containers which were repurposed into classroom buildings. The six-building installation was completed in only ninety days.

The repurposed containers complement site sustainability, as the classroom buildings surround a courtyard shaded by trees and flanked by native plants and an edible garden that supports the campus wellness efforts. Each classroom has floor to ceiling windows and openable walls that let in ample natural light and ventilation, creating a seamless connection to outdoor learning spaces, and offering greater flexibility for the learning and teaching environment. LED lighting augments the natural light when needed, and ductless mechanical units provide heating and cooling.  The structure of the containers is exposed inside the classroom, emphasizing the industrial feel of the space, and adding to the idea of classrooms as learning laboratories for design, construction, and sustainability. Sustainably sourced and certified wood materials complete the interior.

In Conclusion…

The path from single-use shipping container to sustainable, well-ventilated, and naturally lit classroom buildings exemplifies the vision of sustainability that pervades Oak Park Unified School District. This commitment to sustainability achieved sustainable, carbon and energy efficient buildings built from components originally destined for the landfill. These efforts ultimately brought recognition to the District for its campuses’ approach to sustainability, with accolades from the US Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools program and the US Green Building Council and Green Schools National Network.  

Thoughts from the Team…

Both the District and the design team, HED, were asked to give their impression of the project in a series of questions.

What prompted the use of the shipping containers?

It was a collaborative decision between the design team and OPUSD to use container construction to assist in meeting sustainable design goals. OPUSD strongly supports sustainable design and had a positive previous experience with CRATE Modular Company. They made for a natural addition to the team, delivering HED’s designs for the classrooms and restrooms.

What elements of the design had the most significant impact to the project and campus?

The grouping of the container classrooms created an opportunity for landscape design to enhance an outdoor learning space that is heavily used by students and encourages student collaboration. The folding glass doors are mostly open, and students pass in and out under the direction of the teachers to perform project work and study in groups.

The selection of container construction and pre-fabrication resulted in material efficiency that diverted 156,000 tons of waste and reduced carbon emissions by 43 percent over traditional construction. This high level of sustainability contributes to enthusiasm and pride from teachers and students about their educational experience in this place.

What recommendations would you give to another District seeking to build a project using modular or shipping container construction?

Districts should consult with an architect experienced in traditional site-built methods of construction, modular, and shipping container construction early to discuss their timetable, performance needs, site constraints, and budget before determining that they’ll pursue a modular or other approach. Modular is not a silver bullet for a short timetable or budget constraints. An architect experienced in conventional, modular, and shipping container construction can advise which approach is genuinely best for each unique circumstance.

Project Information
District: Oak Park Unified School District
Construction Cost: $2,964,442.00
Building Square Footage: Modular Classroom Buildings (5,760 s.f.), Modular Restroom Buildings (480 s.f.)
Modular Company: CRATE Modular Company
Contractor: Balfour Beatty

Design Team
Architect: HED/Crate Design, LLC
Landscape Architect: Nuvis Landscape Architecture
Structural Engineer: KNA Structural Engineers/Orion Structural Group, Inc.
Mechanical Engineer: Budlong & Associates, Inc./Pocock Design Solutions
Electrical Engineer: Salas O’Brien
Civil Engineer: Wheeler & Gray
Geotechnical Engineer: NV5 West, Inc.