Crate News

NAC Architecture and Bernards have conceived The Hilda L Solis Care First Village–formerly known as the Vignes Street Interim Housing Project–as a social experiment; the project is a hybrid of permanent and temporary structures and will be used flexibly for both housing and shelter.

“CRATE is uniquely positioned to help tackle challenges that exist in the construction industry today,” said Rich Rozycki, CEO of CRATE Modular. “We pride ourselves on the ability to quickly turn over projects that impact people’s daily lives, and we’re ecstatic to be a part of a groundbreaking project that utilizes steel shipping containers like Block Shops.”

CRATE Modular, a leading manufacturer of modular buildings made from reused shipping containers, announced on Jul. 19 the grand opening of “Block Shops,” a 1,900-square-foot retail and restaurant complex made out of steel shipping containers in downtown Atascadero. CRATE partnered with Z Villages to develop the project.

American firms NAC Architecture and Bernards have used shipping containers to form private apartments in a Los Angeles facility for people experiencing homelessness.

The new retail complex brings with it Ancient Owl Beer Garden and Bottle Shop, Negranti Creamery, and custom hat retailer Stellar + Sun Hat Co. Opened by two local brewers Marcin Andruszkiewicz and Laurence Duterte who have spent time working with BarrelHouse Brewing Co.

Located off of the famed U.S. Route 101, Block Shops is positioned centrally between Los Angeles and San Francisco, benefiting people traveling both north and south on the highway.

The Hilda L. Solis Care First Village, located on a formerly empty site at 1060 N. Vignes Street, includes 232 beds for unhoused residents and on-site supportive services in a series of buildings ranging between one and three stories in height. The facility opened its door to residents in April, and reached full occupancy by May.

Rich Rozycki is the CEO of Crate Modular and had a deep background in the modular / prefabrication construction industry at major corporations like Z Modular and Champion Commercial Structures. In this interview, he shares information about the future of modular construction and how it can help solve the affordable housing crisis.