Photo from story, by Tom Ackerman, Starbucks

Starbucks has taken the additional step of building a prototype store out of shipping containers.  While using recycled materials in buildings is not entirely new, I’m not aware of a building project that has taken the challenge of recycled materials more literally in this scope.  One of the points in the article notes that this approach also encourages use in temporary situations.  Considering how many buildings may be built, occupied, and then left unused if plans don’t work out, a temporary approach may be a fresh idea.  I don’t know that this method of building would extend to other business types, given the limitations, but you don’t find out if an idea’s a success by not trying, right?

Eco-Starbucks