Chevy Partners with Nonprofit to Create 1st Shipping Container Home

Community sustainability is important all over the country but no where is it more important than the hub city for America’s main three automotive manufacturers. Set on helping Detroit rebound to previous its previous abundance and glory, General Motors has teamed up with Detroit nonprofit Michigan Urban Farming Initiative (MUFI) to construct the city’s first occupied recycled shipping container home.

Founded in 2012, MUFI aims to empower urban communities to take vacant land and use it for agricultural purposes, such as promoting education and community, as well as sustainability. It is through this organization that GM will help create the first shipping container home to be occupied in Detroit.

The home, which stretches about 40 feet long, eight feet wide and 10 feet tall, will be constructed of 85 percent scrap materials set to be donated by GM in order to demonstrate the effectiveness of recycled materials for urban agricultural buildings.

Some of these materials include old Volt battery cases, storage lockers, vehicle sound deadening materials, wood from shipping containers, pallets and metal parts bins.

These components will not only be used to help create interior wall finishes but also planters, storage areas and furniture for the 320sq-ft living space.

Astounding as it seems, this is enough space for two bedrooms, a bathroom and kitchen, according to TAKD Design, which helped render specifics for the project and will help in the overall build. Detroit’s Integrity Building Group is also a major part of the project.

For the building process, skilled craftsmen from Detroit-Hamtramck’s UAW Local 22 and GM employee volunteers will help TAKD Design, Integrity Building Group and MUFI cut window and door openings, install wall coverings, build furniture and even install wiring for the modern shipping container home.

The house will be completely constructed on the Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly grounds before being moved to its designated site in MUFI’s urban garden in Detroit’s New Center Neighborhood.

Once there, the shipping container home will be occupied year-round by a university student who will maintain the urban garden and use the property for agricultural research.

The shipping container home is just one of the many projects GM is contributing to this year. In 2014 alone, GM will be donating some $1.7 million to 209 organizations in 45 plant cities through their Plant City Grant program. Since 2011, GM has donated $200,000 to the Detroit and Hamtramck community.