Site in the Spotlight - 2008

Owner:	Doug Pruitt
Manager:	Elaine Ball
Location:	Cornelius, NC
Specs:	79,125 sq ft, 575 rentable units
Color:	Classic Beige and Evergreen doors/trim with brick and EFIS accents

How long have you been in the self-storage industry?

3 years

What profession did you hold before entering self storage?

General contractor, heavy duty towing professional, accountant

What sparked your interest in self storage?

I was attracted to the ease of ownership offered through self storage. The business also provides for an excellent return on investment in comparison to other real estate investments I researched.

How did you choose Trachte as your building supplier?

We have a unique design; not unique to the building industry, but unique to self storage. Our local municipality required a specific look for our project, which put a lot of pressure on us in terms of how we were going to create a site that fit their requirements, but was still financially feasible. They wanted the facility to resemble an office complex and disguise all aspects of a "typical" self-storage facility. To achieve this look, typical construction would build the project out of wood truss, which is costly, however, we really wanted steel buildings. Trachte was able to accommodate all of the required features by designing our project as steel buildings with shingled roofs. And they handled the project with ease.

What are the architectural features of your site?

Buildings that have street frontage boast 5":12" pitch hipped roofs, false windows, EFIS details, full brick with complementing colors, and custom gutters. Hat channels were used every 2 feet so that OSB could be installed and asphalt shingles attached. The main building contains 800 square feet of office and 8,500 square feet of climate-controlled units. The building was also designed to have R-38 insulation to accommodate energy efficiency requirements. The design included a cold air attic space, similar to residential housing construction. Additionally, interior buildings feature EIFS walls with brick wainscot and standing seam roofs.

We feel this facility reflects where the industry is turning. No longer are the days of "R" panel walls, "PBR" roofs and poor operating roll-up doors. Local municipalities are getting stricter, which means we're seeing more complex and competitive self-storage designs.

What gives your site a competitive advantage?

Our site location on the main artery gives us excellent visibility. The entire facility has video surveillance, key-in/out gate system, and a key pad entrance for specific units. We also offer self-contained wine storage, humidor for cigar storage, and portable units (also by Trachte).

Who is your target market?

Renters, business owners, people looking for specialty storage.

How do you market your facility?

The site's visibility, plus we also advertise in our local Value pack and Yellow Pages. We also participate in promotional/sponsorship programs and our local chamber.