July 17, 2023
DALLAS—July 17, 2023—Merriman Anderson Architects (MAA) announces the completion of Cardinal Road Self-Storage, a three-story climate-controlled facility in Waxahachie, Texas. MAA provided architectural and interior design services for over 76,000 square feet and 570 storage units.
The building is constructed from concrete masonry blocks and load-bearing metal studs. The exterior is clad in block, transitioning to an exterior insulation finishing system (EIFS), which offers flexibility in design aesthetics while meeting the latest insulation energy codes. By incorporating EIFS into the design and construction, MAA was able to customize the graphics and colors on the building façade. For this project, two walls of fiber cement panels with custom graphics face the main access road and are an architectural focal point. A natural landscape with native plant species was installed around the public perimeter of the building to soften and enhance the drive-by aesthetic of the development.
The main entrance and lobby area feature a service desk, passenger elevator, and freight elevator. Materials and finishes reflect the industry trend of security, self-sufficiency, clean lines, ample lighting, and high traffic. A poppy-colored accent wall, crisp white laminate desk, and stained concrete floors offer a classic and gracious entryway to clients entering the facility.
To enhance the efficiency of the units, the client opted for all interior-facing storage units to be double-loaded onto wide corridors instead of dedicating a percentage of the space to drive-up units. This decision has a positive impact on both building security and rentable square footage, as well as optimizing the exterior visual appeal of the building. There are six different rentable unit sizes, all featuring the latest NOKE smart system, keyless access that allows renters to access their storage unit seamlessly via their smartphone.
The growing global self-storage market, valued at $54 billion in 2021, is expected to reach $83 billion in 2027. Vacancy rates decrease steadily each month as significant markets experience increased demand. MAA experienced typical pandemic-related supply chain issues and the subsequent navigation of material shortages. Construction started in February 2022 and was completed in 15 months.