FAQ

Do you provide design services?

Boxman Studios employs a full-service design team to get you where you need to be, from napkin sketch to install. Conceptual drawings and renderings are first up in the design phase, so everybody knows what we’re building.

Do you build to code?

Yes. There are many codes and standards that we follow, and it varies depending on what we are building and where. This is a good thing- not all conditions are the same. Rest assured that we meet and exceed building standards, no matter if you’re in Charlotte or Antarctica (yes, really).

Shipping containers are basically big LEGO® bricks, right?

Using unmodified boxes, we understand the logic here. The creative process is similar. However the reality is, you need to cut doors and windows in, account for loads and codes, and shelter humans inside. That’s a big scale difference from the living room floor.

What other solution does Boxman Studios provide their clients?

We provide all forms of modular construction, permanent and temporary.

Are Boxman Studio’s builds universally accessible?

If required, yes. You might not know it, but your Boxman Studios activation was put together in such a way to make it inherently accessible. We understand the dynamics of day to day barriers, and that means we are able to make those tiny tweaks that you probably didn’t even notice. We practice designing to various standards, including ADA, but we take it a step further. Our team isn’t satisfied just building your activations, tradeshow booths, and events as if ramps were the only necessary design element for universal accessibility. We blend these considerations into our product’s aesthetics.

What is the build time from the time I sign the contract?

This varies project to project, but 60-90 days is a good average.

Can your team be a turnkey provider?

We can handle everything with the exception of site work and final MEP hookups.

What information can I provide to get your team started?

Initial sketches, timeline, budget if you have it, and aesthetics and branding you’d like to see.

What is the cost of your structures?

Since we develop custom structures, the price will vary heavily from project to project. We typically have past projects that we can reference to give a very broad budgetary number for you to work off of, but to get an accurate quote, we would need to go through the Boxman value engineering process.

What are my responsibilities outside of Boxman’s scope of work?

You will be responsible for coordinating site work and working with the Boxman team to best plan for your project’s unique needs. This includes the concrete slab and running utilities to the unit location. You are also responsible for the connection of the unit to the foundation and connecting the utilities and equipment.

What is the benefit of doing a container or modular project versus a standard stick/brick built project?

The actual build costs are about the same, however, the time to market is the extreme benefit. Along with the 7-year deprecation tax benefit, it takes Boxman Studios half the time to build a container or modular concept than it would a standard stick/brick built project.

What is the rough cost of a full kitchen container?

If you are looking to do a full kitchen with hood and make-up air unit, the typical range is $180,000 to $225,000. However, if a hood is not needed, the average price range is $150,000 to $185,000 – about a 20% difference.

How do you handle unique sizing of containers? Do you only build 8-foot-wide containers? How does that work with ADA requirements and equipment?

We can repurpose a shipping container to be used as a restaurant, or we can build from the ground up, through modular construction principals, creating wider concepts that easily accommodate equipment. We recommend designing units that are 10-foot wide when it comes to food and beverage units.

How are things permitted and approved in reference to modular construction or containers?

We have our designs approved by the Modular Building Institute, not the local city municipalities. The MBI comes out to our building and does inspections as we are building the unit, just like you would have an inspection on site for a stick-and-brick building. At the end of the build, they pay a final visit to our facility to give one final inspection and sign off. A final approval means your container is built in accordance with all codes and laws for the state you are activating in. You will need to have the site signed off on and inspected by the health department so you can obtain your license to operate.

Can we finance our project?

Yes. We have finance partners to help facilitate financial options for you.

Where can I find a list of your rental pricing?

We are a fully-custom company. Although we have assets that are for rent we use them in a multitude of ways to solve different challenges. Because there are so many elements that affect how we price our projects (turn around time, customizations, location, tour duration, logistics etc) we do not have a generic price for our leasable assets. For more information about our general pricing structure, download our ebook.

Why don’t you use electric awnings?

Electronic awnings have a maximum wind capacity of 25 MPH , which can be a safety hazard in the right weather condition. Our gull wing awning has a more attractive look and feel, and has a maximum wind capacity of 50 MPH. This allows for more flexibility in your space.

Will I need to pay additional fees for you to set up at my tradeshow?

Yes. You will most likely have to pay additional fees for your booth. Fees will depend on the venue of your tradeshow. Some will require Drayage some will only ask for a spotting fee.

Drayage is the term given to the fees you pay to have your booth and trade show exhibit materials shipped to the event and delivered to your booth location for set up. This is typically charged/billed by the pound and number of items/boxes. As for how it impacts us at Boxman Studios, we are usually able to bypass ‘drayage’ because the unit never leaves our possession. We do occasionally see a ‘spotting fee’ which is typically much lower than the average cost of drayage for the typical exhibitor.

Union labor may or may not be required depending on the venue. If union labor is required, we can usually reduce union labor costs/requirements because we only need to be supervised as we set up and break down the unit because opening our units requires a skilled labor.

Can we help write an RFP?

Before issuing an RFP, we suggest you solicit a letter of interest from your broad pool of candidates; if you feel it is in your best interest to get nondisclosure agreements this can go with solicitation. This helps you gauge responsiveness, professionalism, gets the right contacts, narrows down RFP recipients to the most qualified and interested people, and saves you from investing further time in unqualified or undesirable partners.