‘Crafty’ Facility Design: A Case Study of Superior Self Storage in Granite Bay, CA

The development of high-profile self-storage facilities continues at a strong pace in the rapidly growing suburbs of the Southwest, especially California. A great example of this trend is the recently completed Superior Self Storage in Granite Bay, one of seven facilities the company operates in Greater Sacramento. This area has seen explosive growth in all real estate sectors, including residential. Increased demand for storage made this a promising region in which to build.

Though prospects for success were favorable, the project was not without obstacles. Read about the challenges the developer faced and how they were surmounted to create this stunning self-storage facility that incorporates many elements in the American Craftsman style.

Strategic Site Selection

David Kindelt, the self-storage owner, builder and operations manager who founded Superior Self Storage and serves as its president, worked with his development group to source the right facility location. Vacant parcels or obsolete land uses on busy commercial streets in developed suburbs are difficult to find, so this was the first challenge. They ultimately targeted the 2.8-acre site at the heavily traveled intersection of Sierra College and Douglas Boulevards. It was the perfect spot.

Now we were ready to tackle design. My architectural firm had worked with Kindelt on other Superior facilities, so we were prepared to address the needs of this flagship project, though we couldn’t foresee all complications.

The main office showcasing high-quality, American Craftsman-style elements

A ‘Crafty’ Design Solution

As is typical, the biggest barrier to obtaining the required land-use permits for the Granite Bay development was the high demand for aesthetics from the municipality and community. The property had previously been used for an unsightly equipment-rental business, and the existing conditions were less than desirable. The goal was to replace this structure with something more attractive and useful.

Conceptual site-design work started in July 2017. The first step was applying for a conditional-use permit. Granite Bay is an unincorporated community, so all formal land-use and construction permits would be reviewed and approved by Placer County. The community association would also have to review and approve the project.

Plans were submitted, followed by meetings with county departments. The first design concept was for a mixed-use development that included a Dutch Brothers Coffee at the front of the parcel facing Sierra College Boulevard, with the self-storage facility toward the rear. Unfortunately, traffic issues and lack of adequate space for a drive-thru led to the elimination of that approach after several months of effort.

The welcoming office

The project went on hold for several more months, then proceeded with just the self-storage component, which was then enlarged and extended toward the street. This greatly increased visibility along the frontage. We were on the right track, but we were starting the design process from scratch, which meant several more months of review.

An initial assessment of the revised design by the Granite Bay Community Association wasn’t very favorable, primarily due to the size, mass and height of the three-story, climate-controlled building, which was just one of several structures planned for the property. After some collaboration, we incorporated traditional, high-quality, Craftsman-style design elements found in upscale retail and residential projects nearby. These included an earth-tone color scheme common to the surrounding area. Exposed concrete block and stucco were used as primary exterior materials, with a horizontal stone veneer tower accenting the office. There are also decorative, sloping metal roofs on the first floor. Overall, the design exceeds the usual industry standards.

As part of the process, we also invited members of the community association to tour other Superior facilities in high-visibility areas. They walked away understanding that this wouldn’t be a typical utilitarian project with a plain-Jane look.

After all this effort, new design studies were presented. Enhancements, refinements and additional details were incorporated through several reviews until a final plan was approved by all parties. The association gave its unanimous green light in March 2020.

A view of a drive aisle from just inside the entry gate

The Final, Lengthy Stretch

With this crucial hurdle cleared and approval received from all internal departments, the project proceeded to the Placer County Planning Department and was scheduled for a public hearing. The conditional-use permit was granted in October 2020 following a unanimous vote, nearly three years and three months after the design process began.

Plans were submitted for building permits in January 2021 and approved for construction two months later. However, there was a delay in obtaining grading permits due to site-drainage issues, which pushed the start of construction to November 2022, right at the start of the North California rain season. Work continued through various delays until May 2024, when a Certificate of Occupancy was issued and Superior could begin renting units to the public.

The final project is 86,476 net rentable square feet spread across 725 units. It includes three single-story buildings with large, drive-up units in addition to the three-story structure, which offers drive-up units on the first floor and climate-controlled units on the upper levels. There’s a rental office facing the main street but also a corporate office at the rear of the site.

The lease-up phase is progressing well, and this Superior project is on track to be highly successful. Top-notch location combined with high-quality, community-based design aesthetics resulted in an exceptional self-storage development that is certainly one of the brand’s leading facilities.

Ariel L. Valli is president and principal architect of Valli Architectural Group. He has 46 years of experience in architecture and land planning, with an emphasis on facility design. As a practicing licensed architect, he’s designed many buildings including residential, commercial, institutional and industrial. To reach him, call 949.813.4191 or email [email protected]. Find him at www.linkedin.com/in/ariel-valli-876a1910/.