Big Rapids Self-Storage Facility

Developers wanted to take a 3.5-acre farm field in Green Township (Mecosta County) and construct a self-storage facility to service the areas demands. The site provided unique challenges with a moderate sloped topography, thick topsoil from years of prior farming, and heavy (clay) underlying soils that required precise storm water management. The project, located at 18755 Northland Drive (US-31), was completed by McGuirk Sand-Gravel of Mt. Pleasant and consisted of 6 self-storage buildings with a total of 254 individual units totaling 44,430 square feet of storage space, asphalt drives, wall mounted exterior lighting, storm water controls and more. The steep topography change between the east and west sides of the side required numerous site grading and layout iterations to dial in a plan that would allow for the constructability of the long storage buildings while minimizing mass grading and the export of excess cut material from the site. The final design optimized the maximum number of units the developer could obtain while minimizing construction costs. GFA was readily available throughout the construction process to make design adjustments as unknown utilities and site constraints were uncovered during construction. From conceptual layout, to site design, to obtaining local and MDOT permits, to construction staking, through to project close-out, GFA provided full consulting services to make this project come to fruition.