RIP-ROARING RORY

Faster, Higher, Stronger—Together. Behold the Olympic motto. Highland Park resident Rory Rubin and her family—husband Dan and children Cassie (19) and Shaun (17)—lit the first Rubin Olympic Games cauldron 10 years ago to bring in the New Year.

“We stage kooky events, mostly,” Rubin explains. “Kayak races, mini-ring tosses, see who can create the best blind artwork, and then give out recycled medals at the end.”

Rubin, 54, deserves an authentic medal for having formed S.I. Container Builds (SICBS) in 2018. It builds single- and multi-family residences using one-trip shipping containers as the primary material.

Licensed in all 50 states and backed by the early-stage investor group Hyde Park Angels, SICBS builds a variety of functional structures that are sustainable, resilient, and reliable. Reusing this steel frame makes a positive impact on the living conditions of communities and the wellness of the planet by offering innovative solutions that are driven by quality. SICBS is combating the housing crisis while updating traditional ways of construction—fulfilling Rubin’s mission to educate communities about the importance of sustainable living and minimizing the carbon footprint.

“There are a lot of misconceptions about the container home business,” Rubin says. “The containers are not rusty old boxes; they’re made of corrosion-resistant alloys, built to code, and can be stacked like LEGOs. We only broker containers that have crossed the ocean once. If we don’t recycle them, the containers would be stacked in ‘container graveyards,’ since the U.S. does not ship them back.”

It takes only eight to 12 weeks to build most SICBS structures, which range from houses to villages to accessory dwelling units (aka mother-in-law suites) to commercial buildings.

“Our structures offer flexibility because they can blend into any community, through cladding and other design elements, and can be built for just about anything,” says Rubin.

SICBS has partnered with Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation and Kate Spade New York to bring the “She Care Wellness Pods” to historically black colleges and universities to help destigmatize mental health conversations.

“Another wonderful project was built on the campground at Yukon Village in Wisconsin,” Rubin notes. The container village project was a first for Petite Retreats, a company offering unique vacation rentals in picturesque locations ranging from Yosemite National Park to the Florida Keys. Five shipping containers were transformed into cozy and sustainable tiny house rentals. Surrounded by large pines and massive oak trees, it is hard to believe the village is only 15 miles from the action-packed and family- friendly Wisconsin Dells.

“We are so blessed with our relationships,” Rubin continues. “Having clients who share our values and mission to ‘do good’ makes what we do that much more powerful.”

On the books and in partnership with Housing Opportunity Development Corporation and Shelter Inc. and funded by an Illinois Department of Children and Family Services grant, SICBS will build a home in Cook County that provides safety and housing for young female survivors of human trafficking.

“We’re addressing some of our country’s most pressing needs,” Rubin says. “There are so many wonderful uses for our containers.”

Why did Rubin start a modular construction company? Building is a family mindset. Father Neil was an architect who ended up working on the business side of the industry.

“Dad has professional grit,” Rubin says. “I have it, too. It’s the mindset I use to push through and make a difference. It was instrumental in helping me create this company.”

Rubin’s professional life began after she majored in psychology at Ithaca College in New York and earned her Master of Science in Social Administration at Case Western Reserve University in Ohio. She worked on the business side of social work for years and as a management consultant after that.

“It really isn’t so strange starting as a social worker,” Rubin says. “I was always part of impact projects. Now, I do impact projects through S.I. Container Builds.”

“We’re making history in Cook County as the very first container homes dropped in Evanston in April of this year. We now have real solutions to housing here in Illinois and beyond.

Well done, Rory.

Time to climb onto an award podium’s top spot.

For more information, visit sicontainerbuilds.com.