Resources

Design Assist

Design Assist for Self Storage Projects

A collaborative planning and design support program that helps architects, developers, and owners move from early concept to buildable self-storage solutions with greater clarity, confidence, and coordination.

Trachte Design Assist brings our self-storage planning, engineering, product, and project support expertise into the design process earlier. Whether you are evaluating a new site, converting an existing building, planning a multi-story facility, or refining a unit mix, our team helps align design intent with practical buildings systems, code requirements, site constraints, and long-term operational goals.

What is Trachte Design Assist?

Best for:

New self-storage developments
Building conversions
Multi-story facilities
Climate-controlled storage
Door and hallway systems
Canopies and specialty configurations
Facility expansions

Bring Self-Storage Expertise Into the Design Process Earlier

Trachte Design Assist is a collaborative support process for design professionals, developers, and project teams working on self-storage projects. The goal is simple: help your team make informed decisions earlier, reduce rework later, and develop a project direction that is practical, code-conscious, and aligned with the owner’s business objectives.

Through Design Assist, Trachte can help review project goals, evaluate preliminary layouts, discuss building system options, provide feedback on conversion and hall system details, and coordinate next steps with the appropriate regional manager, engineering support, and technical resources.

Why Use Trachte Design Assist?

Design Support Built Around Self-Storage Performance

Early Planning Insight

Self-storage design decisions affect circulation, unit mix, land utilization, phasing, code compliance, customer experience, and long-term revenue potential. Trachte helps project teams evaluate key considerations before plans become difficult or expensive to change.

Practical Layout Feedback

Our team can review site information and provide feedback on layout opportunities, constraints, and storage configurations. For qualifying projects, Trachte can also develop a preliminary concept site plan to help the team visualize how the site may be organized.

Engineering-Backed Solutions

Trachte’s in-house engineering team supports custom designs, job-specific calculations, drawings, stamped plans, and building solutions tailored to project requirements. This helps architects and owners move forward with solutions that are both functional and buildable.

Code-Conscious Coordination

With project-specific information from the design team, including setbacks, wind loads, snow loads, and other local requirements, Trachte can help align the building approach with applicable national, local, and international code considerations.

Better Decisions Before Construction

Early collaboration helps teams compare options, understand impacts, and reduce the likelihood of late-stage redesign. The result is a clearer path from design intent to a self-storage facility that can be manufactured, installed, and operated successfully.

A More Coordinated Path From Concept to Construction

Support From Layout Through Installation

Trachte Design Assist connects the resources architects and developers need at the right stage of the project. Instead of waiting until the design is nearly complete, your team can involve Trachte earlier to help identify opportunities, avoid common pitfalls, and coordinate around proven self-storage building systems.

Site Planning

Evaluate site opportunities, land use, circulation, phasing, unit mix considerations, and preliminary layout direction.

Custom Engineering

Coordinate custom building solutions, job-specific drawings, stamped plans, product details, and code-related requirements.

Installation Support

Connect design decisions to real-world construction coordination, erector scheduling, technical support, and quality installation practices.

Our Simple Design Assist Process

How the Program Works

Step 1: Share Your Project Goals
Tell us about the project type, location, site status, target unit mix, building type, conversion opportunity, or expansion plan.

Step 2: Provide Available Project Information
Send available surveys, drawings, as-built plans, zoning information, setbacks, code requirements, preliminary concepts, or AutoCAD files.

Step 3: Connect With a Trachte Regional Manager
A Trachte regional manager reviews the opportunity with you and helps determine the best next step based on project scope, timing, and available information.

Step 4: Review Layout and Building Options
Trachte helps your team explore practical layout considerations, storage configurations, door and hallway systems, building options, and project-specific constraints.

Step 5: Coordinate Engineering and Technical Resources
When the project is ready, Trachte’s engineering and technical support teams can assist with custom designs, stamped plans, calculations, and product-specific details.

Step 6: Move Toward a Buildable Self-Storage Solution
With a clearer layout, coordinated design direction, and Trachte support, your team can advance toward construction documents, budgeting, manufacturing, and installation planning.

Design Tools, Details, and Specifications

Trachte’s Architect Resources page gives design professionals access to technical information for conversion and hallway systems, including typical components, options, installation details, DWG and PDF resources, color options, and photo portfolios.

Resource Cards:

When to Engage Trachte

Earlier Is Better

The best time to begin Design Assist is when your team has enough information to evaluate a real project direction but before the design is locked in. Trachte can be especially helpful when you are comparing layouts, reviewing a potential building conversion, studying land utilization, evaluating climate-controlled storage, or coordinating building systems with architectural design.

You may be ready for Design Assist if you have:

  • A qualified land survey or site information
  • Preliminary building or site concepts
  • As-built plans for a conversion project
  • Setback, zoning, or code requirements
  • A target unit mix or business objective
  • Questions about building systems, hallway systems, doors, canopies, or installation
  • A need to coordinate design intent with practical self-storage construction

Start Your Design Assist Conversation

Have a site, concept, conversion opportunity, or early design question? Connect with Trachte to review your project and determine the right next step.

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Design With Confidence. Build With Trachte.

From preliminary planning to custom engineering and installation support, Trachte helps project teams turn self-storage concepts into practical, buildable facilities.