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Topic of the Week:
How creativity and engineering can transform spaces, even in unexpected places like marinas.
​This week's Mentor is a trailblazing female developer who has worked on some truly exciting projects, like the Navy Pier Marina’s boater amenity building, made entirely from repurposed shipping containers! She’ll share how she turned these industrial containers into a two-story, pet-friendly space for boaters—showing how creativity and engineering can transform even the most unexpected materials into functional, sustainable buildings.​
Program Highlights:
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Repurposing Materials: Take a field trip with us to learn first-hand how shipping containers can be transformed into functional, sustainable buildings like a two-story marina office, store, showers, and more.
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Designing for Community: Discover how thoughtful design creates spaces that benefit the community, like bike repair stations and pet-friendly lounges.
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Sustainability & Resilience: Explore how using repurposed materials helps reduce waste and creates buildings that withstand harsh environmental conditions.
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STEM + Waterfront: Get inspired to combine your love for the water with engineering and design to innovate future waterfront spaces.
Session 3: July 7-11 M-F 9am-4pm
Meet Your Mentor
Rory Ruben - Founder & CEO,
S.I Container Builds
With over 18 years of experience as a management consultant, Rory Rubin founded S.I. Container Builds, Inc., a woman-owned, Chicago-based company specializing in sustainable, recycled steel dwellings. Her mission is to create durable, low-maintenance structures that can withstand extreme weather conditions, from fires and hurricanes to intense snow loads.
Rory’s company collaborates with developers, non-profits, and community leaders to meet the growing demand for sustainable, affordable housing solutions. Through partnerships with Town Studios, Inc., she ensures that every project combines thoughtful design, sustainability, and efficient construction. Driven by her commitment to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) values, Rory is dedicated to building structures that not only meet the needs of communities but also contribute to a better, more sustainable future.
