Shipping container architecture is certainly not a new concept. We've seen it used for everything from a Starbucks to pop-up grocery stores . But that doesn't make it any less interesting when stackable shipping containers are used to make buildings.

In Providence, R.I., a 3-story, 10,000 square-foot office building, aptly named the "Box Office," has been built using 32 recycled shipping containers.

Like many of the designs that use shipping containers, sustainability was a top priority, using sustainable building material and cutting energy use. It's also half the cost of a conventional building. This one cost $1.8 million, NPR reported.

But the challenge for this building is something other shipping container stores, like the Starbucks container store, don't have to deal with. This building actually has to attract companies and organization willing to pay to work in the space. So far, the building has been relatively successful leasing out space. Currently, it is 75 percent full. Not bad for working in a box.

Would you want to work in a shipping container office?

[Via Inhabitat]

Photo: Nat Rea/distill studio

This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com