How Boma Properties Helped Build the 83 Freight Container Apartment Project in Nashville
- Keith Henderson
- May 14
- 3 min read
Inside the Shipping Container Construction Process Behind the Byrum Development
Before it became known as The Byrum Apartments in Nashville, the project started as one of the most ambitious shipping container construction developments in the country: 83 Freight.
At Boma Properties, our team was involved in the large-scale container fabrication and logistics process that helped bring the project to life using custom-built shipping containers designed specifically for modular apartment construction.
This project showcased how shipping containers can be used not only for homes and hospitality, but also for large commercial multifamily developments.
Custom Shipping Containers Built Specifically for the Project
Unlike traditional used shipping containers, the units created for the 83 Freight project were custom-manufactured specifically for construction use.
The containers were built new without paint so the exterior steel could naturally weather and develop a raw industrial rusted appearance over time. This gave the project its distinctive architectural style while maintaining the structural durability of steel container construction.
Our role involved coordinating and completing major portions of the steel fabrication process before the containers were shipped to the United States. Corten steel will give off a natural petina but not loose its structural integrity.
Large-Scale Steel Fabrication and Modular Construction
One of the most unique aspects of the project was the scale and speed of construction.
Each shipping container required:
structural steel fabrication
framing preparation
custom modifications
welding and reinforcement
preparation for stacking and installation
The modular construction approach allowed major portions of the work to be completed before the containers ever arrived on-site in Nashville.
This dramatically reduced the amount of traditional on-site construction compared to conventional apartment development methods.
International Shipping and Logistics Coordination
Once fabrication was completed, the containers were shipped into the Port of Savannah before being transported by rail to Nashville, Tennessee.
Managing the logistics for a project of this scale required coordination across:
overseas manufacturing
container shipping
port operations
rail transportation
trucking logistics
on-site delivery scheduling
At peak construction, up to nine shipping containers per day were delivered to the site on flatbed trucks.
Each unit was then unloaded, lifted into place, and assembled together like building blocks to create the apartment complex structure.
The speed and efficiency of modular shipping container construction became one of the defining features of the project.
Building With Shipping Containers at Commercial Scale
The 83 Freight project demonstrated how shipping containers can be used far beyond small cabins or single-family homes.
Container-based modular construction offers advantages for developers and large-scale projects including:
accelerated construction timelines
reduced on-site labor
modular scalability
durable steel structures
architectural uniqueness
off-site fabrication efficiency
Today, container construction continues gaining attention for:
apartment developments
boutique hotels
student housing
hospitality projects
mixed-use developments
From Large Developments to Modern Container Homes
At Boma Properties container homes, we apply the same real-world experience from large-scale container fabrication and logistics into modern prefab shipping container homes designed for:
Airbnb investments
backyard ADUs
boutique hospitality
off-grid living
full-time residences
Our team understands both the design side and the operational realities of modular container construction at scale.
Why Developers and Businesses Are Exploring Modular Container Construction
As labor costs, material costs, and construction timelines continue rising, more developers are exploring alternative building methods that improve efficiency without sacrificing durability or design.
Shipping container modular construction allows portions of the project to be fabricated off-site while site work and infrastructure are completed simultaneously. This can help compress timelines and improve coordination on large projects.
For developers looking to create visually distinctive projects with efficient modular systems, container construction continues to attract interest across the hospitality and multifamily sectors.
Learn More About Shipping Container Construction
Explore Boma Properties prefab shipping container homes and modern modular designs built from real-world experience in container fabrication, logistics, and construction.