Advantages and Disadvantages of Retail/Office build using containers
I have recently come across an opportunity to build ~4,5000 sqft of Retail (single story) or ~9,000 sqft Office (2 stories) in a Southeastern US city. 

I have started exploring Shipping container build-outs after seeing them used in some nearby developments and I have gotten a rough estimate of $110-$160 sqft for the containers + all modifications/mechanical. This excludes all site prep, ground work, permitting, architecture, foundation, onsite utility build-out and hookup, parking lot, and all other work which would be done on site by a GC.


* Based on this, can anyone speak to whether going the container route would be more economical? 

* Can you provide an estimate of the cost of all of the other work as listed above if going the container route? (Or resources to find this info.)
* What would the rough estimate for costs be with a stick-built building? (Or resources to find this info.)
* What are other advantages and disadvantages of going the Container route?
* What are the long term implications of using Containers?
* How are containers perceived by tenants?
[{"id": "fp0ws71", "text": "Why can\u2019t you just do a prefab? Have you looked into the pricing of that?", "replies": [{"id": "fp0xb6i", "text": "I have not, I am admittedly very new to the development world. How does prefab differ from traditional construction? Would it be cheaper?\n\nActually I have all of the same questions as above about prefab? Would you be able to answer some or point me to some resources? Thank you.", "replies": [{"id": "fp0xxzp", "text": "Prefab would mean the entire construction would be manufactured off site and assembled at location. It CAN be cheaper, but the bigger benefits are it takes a lot less time to assemble at site and quality is usually better, as everything is manufactured under strict factory conditions. Look on YouTube, you\u2019ll find lots of videos about it. \n\nThe reason I\u2019d be weary of shipping containers is that it might give a very ghetto impression of your business. Either that or very artsy, but it totally depends on the clientele, location and how you play it with the design, paint, etc...\n\n[What is prefab construction?](https://youtu.be/VHOC0ZaZErE)\n\nAnother pretty extreme example of prefab. \n[30-Storey building made in 15 days](https://youtu.be/rwvmru5JmXk)", "replies": [], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "fp10re8", "text": "Remindme! 2 days", "replies": [{"id": "fp172n8", "text": "There is a 1 hour delay fetching comments.\n\nI will be messaging you in 1 day on [**2020-05-02 04:36:38 UTC**](http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=2020-05-02%2004:36:38%20UTC%20To%20Local%20Time) to remind you of [**this link**](https://np.reddit.com/r/CommercialRealEstate/comments/gaobao/advantages_and_disadvantages_of_retailoffice/fp10re8/?context=3)\n\n[**CLICK THIS LINK**](https://np.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=RemindMeBot&amp;subject=Reminder&amp;message=%5Bhttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.reddit.com%2Fr%2FCommercialRealEstate%2Fcomments%2Fgaobao%2Fadvantages_and_disadvantages_of_retailoffice%2Ffp10re8%2F%5D%0A%0ARemindMe%21%202020-05-02%2004%3A36%3A38%20UTC) to send a PM to also be reminded and to reduce spam.\n\n^(Parent commenter can ) [^(delete this message to hide from others.)](https://np.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=RemindMeBot&amp;subject=Delete%20Comment&amp;message=Delete%21%20gaobao)\n\n*****\n\n|[^(Info)](https://np.reddit.com/r/RemindMeBot/comments/e1bko7/remindmebot_info_v21/)|[^(Custom)](https://np.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=RemindMeBot&amp;subject=Reminder&amp;message=%5BLink%20or%20message%20inside%20square%20brackets%5D%0A%0ARemindMe%21%20Time%20period%20here)|[^(Your Reminders)](https://np.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=RemindMeBot&amp;subject=List%20Of%20Reminders&amp;message=MyReminders%21)|[^(Feedback)](https://np.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=Watchful1&amp;subject=RemindMeBot%20Feedback)|\n|-|-|-|-|", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "fp110e8", "text": "Check out Steelewave in los angeles, a great example of container development", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "fp1soly", "text": "I don\u2019t know about the economics, but in Austin there is a very popular bar made entirely out of containers. It was a great time and I would love to go back. https://austincontainerbar.com/", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "fp1z80r", "text": "One major hurdle will be financing. Container construction is a non-starter for a lot of lenders and the few that would do it will be very expensive.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}]