Rocket Electrics' Mobile Satellite Location
Additional Info
Award Winner : Falcon Structures
Architectural Excellence : The bright red Rocket Electrics satellite e-bike rental location stands out among the other portable store fronts in Mueller Park, an up and coming community in Austin, Texas with high end apartments and boutique shops. The fully opening side wall doors transform the structure from a simple shipping container into a business with broad open doors. The shining red and white paint coupled with the corrugated steel is the perfect industrial backdrop for Rocket Electrics’ red e-bikes.
Choosing a repurposed shipping container embodies Austin’s commitments to sustainability and “keeping it weird.” Behind the custom brushed-steel sign, customers can also see a twelve-panel solar array, letting them know that Rocket Electrics is a green company.
The interior is painted white and contains bike racks and charging stations. Rocket Electrics chose to keep the original container floors, creating a homey co-op aesthetic inside the container.
Cost Energy Effectiveness : Rocket Electrics chose a container because they needed a lean way to expand the reach of their business in popular commercial sites. Because their service is geared towards outdoor recreation, an open-air location that could be locked up at night would suit their needs just as well as brick and mortar location, but at a significantly lower cost. The solar array is also helping them amortize the upfront cost of panel installation by reducing their power bill to zero.
In addition to being less expensive overall, installation was simple. A tilt-bed truck pulled up to the location at Mueller park and slid the container onto their site in a matter of minutes. Choosing a container-based store front enabled Rocket Electrics to skip months of coordination with contractors. Because the structure is mobile and thus temporary, the business also saved thousands of dollars in permitting fees that would have applied to a permanent building.
Green Building Description : N/A
Occupied Date : 5/25/2018
Production Start Date : 2/15/2018
Project Location City : Austin
Project Location State Name : Texas
Technical Innovation : As a provider of e-bikes, Rocket Electrics wants to show Texas a more eco-friendly way to commute. Part of staying on their brand meant creating a satellite store front that prioritized green construction. Because they chose a container, they were able to place their container directly on their lot without pouring a carbon intensive concrete pad. The mobility of a container also enables them to move their satellite front without wasting resources on demolition and reconstruction.
In partnership with NATiVE, Falcon also installed a solar panel racking system, custom designed for container roofs. When customers see the solar panels, they know their e-bikes are powered by 100% clean energy. The battery array inside the container alongside the e-bikes is secure behind the corten steel doors when Rocket Electrics locks up for the night.
Total Square Feet : 160