Can a used 24′ x 40′ California DSA Portable Classroom be remodeled and converted into an office?
Yes. If you use an experienced Architect, you can properly design and remodel the Portable Classroom and recertify the structure from its existing status as a DSA (Division of the State Architect) Portable Classroom into an HCD (Housing and Community Development) certified Commercial Modular office. This process is required by law and can be completed within a reasonable time.
I address this topic monthly, and its popularity is rising as the availability of these used portables in California increases. A typical 24’ x 40’ portable classroom offers 960 square feet, which can easily be redesigned into an office layout. This design can include private offices, restrooms, storage, and conference rooms, along with new windows and doors. The quick and cost-effective process presents an excellent opportunity for businesses needing office space.
Various California companies are adopting this modular building approach because it’s quick, adaptable, cost-efficient, and often environmentally friendly. Reusing buildings instead of tearing them down always benefits the environment.
Some Common Uses for Converted Portable Classrooms
Over the past few years, I’ve modified used portables into office space for public and private companies in the following industries:
- Agriculture
- Automotive Sales
- Gas and Power Facilities
- Non-Profit
- Religious Organizations
- Professional Sports Franchises
- Real Estate Development
- Residential and Commercial Construction
- Retail Sales
- Special Event Facilities
- Transportation
Businesses in various sectors require modular offices for multiple purposes, including specific projects, off-site work areas, administrative tasks, dispatch functions, scaling their operations up or down, seasonal activities, and often for initiating new business divisions. Consequently, moving into a refurbished, almost-new office within 4 to 6 weeks of ordering became increasingly popular. This surge in interest coincided with our promotion of the idea that purchasing a revamped Portable Classroom is an efficient solution to address facility needs rapidly.
Here’s how to convert a Portable Classroom into functional office space
HELPFUL HINT: You can learn more about this process on the California HCD web page for Permits and Inspections.
STEP 1. The crucial step in this procedure is ensuring that the used Portable is re-certified in California as a commercial modular building approved by the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). Typically, the owner or seller of the used portable manages this process either directly or via a third-party inspection service or through an Architect experienced in commercial modular buildings. This certification process includes submitting building plans, undergoing a physical inspection, and engaging in a detailed discussion between the state’s HCD official and the Architect or Engineer responsible for obtaining the certification.
STEP 2. The second essential step in converting a Portable Classroom into an office involves securing the necessary permits from your local building and planning department to be legally installed at your location. This standard protocol applies when setting up a modular building for temporary or permanent use. It’s important to know specific details about the Portable Classroom’s installation: its location, intended use, duration of use, inclusion of restrooms, sources of utility connections, and whether it will be open to the public. Typically, a professional Architect or Engineer experienced in modular construction handles this process and can guide you through site selection and permitting. However, for your initial planning, having these details ready is helpful.
If you’re in California and need office space, consider renting or purchasing a modified California Portable Classroom or customizing one to meet your specific requirements. You can create your ideal floor plan and choose the precise interior and exterior finishes to make a comfortable and efficient environment for you and your team. Don’t worry about your future office’s origins as a Portable Classroom from a California school; see it as a potential good omen for your business’s success. It represents a clever utilization of space!
✅Click here to get price quotes to rent or buy any size modular building, portable classroom, or mobile office trailer, or call toll-free at (800) 806-7485 for nationwide assistance from iModular today!
