If anyone reading this blog has ever had to move their own stuff, then you know what a hassle it can be. If everything goes smoothly, you can move all your stuff from one location directly to the next, or, if you’re really lucky, you can just hire a moving company. However, most of the time, that is not the case, and something goes wrong, forcing you to use a storage facility for some amount of time. Personally, I do not enjoy these places. I liken it to a prison for your stuff – poorly lit, cramped, sterile, and for some reason, they always seem to smell bad – like rotting cardboard and mothballs. Add to that the actual lobby where you purchase your rental space – dirty, grimy and not particularly friendly. The locations of these facilities are also problematic, as they are usually located in some sort of demilitarized zone – not the first neighborhood I would want to store my valuables. The entire experience is only slightly better then sitting through an insurance seminar at the DMV.
So, when Sure Storage USA came to Lone Wolf Drafting and Design to help them develop a premier storage facility, I was intrigued and very interested in taking the job. Sure Storage wanted to create the anti-storage facility. They wanted a facility that was bright, cheerful, warm, inviting and located in a safe, secure neighborhood. They wanted the “Waldorf Astoria of storage units”.
So, with the input of a storage unit specialist, I began developing the space that they wanted. They had some specific needs in there design program: a manager’s office, conference room, Post Office kiosk, and a moving supply sales kiosk. Sure Storage was going to use several specific storage unit sizes: 10’x20’, 10’x15’, 10’x10’, 10’x5’, and 5’x5’. Therefore, I decided to use those storage units as the basis for the rooms that would be featured in there lobby. The 10’x20’ unit was used as their conference room, and the 10’x10’ unit became the manager’s office. The 10’x15’ unit became the Post Office kiosk, and the 5’x5’ unit became the security and surveillance booth. The 10’x5’ unit was used as the moving and packing supplies kiosk.
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| 5'x5' and 10'x5' units |
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| 10'x15' USPS Kiosk |
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| 5'x5' Security Kiosk |
Sure Storage not only wanted a warm looking feel, but they also wanted a way to convey their strength and security. Therefore, I finished off the walls with a standard drywall and paint finish, but I added in a cutaway curve that shows the steel panel walls that makes up the walls of the storage units.
One of the biggest requests that Sure Storage had was lots of natural light. Therefore, the conference room and manager’s office has large windows cut into the outer walls, and the inner walls are glass curtain walls to allow as much light through as possible. Skylights are cut into the ceiling throughout the entire lobby. Florescent lights were not used anywhere in the building – instead soft white canned incandescent lights were used throughout.
The main customer service counter consists of large, sweeping curve clad in Moz Designs Metals with raised lettering, topped with a black granite counter top – no vinyl or plastic tops here! Large plasma screens show off Sure Storage’s latest products, while two large product kiosks display moving equipment and storage solutions.
The final result is a beautifully designed space that would welcome even the most discerning storage customer. Do you have horror stories about storage facilities? Would you seek out a storage facility like this one if you had the choice? Share your thoughts and stories in the comments section! I hope to hear from you soon!
