Pros & Cons
1. Awesomeness: We hack our own space! 2. Expandability: Start small and add cubes as we can/need. 3. Low Risk: Small capital outlay and we can always sell the containers which are a fairly liquid commodity. 4. Portability: They can be moved very easily and cheap (~$100-200 within the city). 5. Durability: They are heavy, strong and weather resistant. ~9,000lbs of steel. 6. We just need to find vacant land to put them on. 7. Possibility of getting cheap/free containers as sponsorship or something. 8. Mobility: Take some or all of our space to meets/conventions/ fairs. 9. Security: Hard to break into. Need a cutting torch.
And some drawbacks, all of which have solutions.
1. Utilities: Electricity, heat, water and sewer would need to be 'off- grid'. 2. Image: This could either work for us or against us. 3. We're trading cost for sweat equity. 4. Possible difficulty with building/city inspectors. Sometimes their good people, sometimes their douche bags.