Construction wrapped earlier this month on a new Public Storage location in Historic South Central Los Angeles, less than a mile from USC.

Designed by Irvine-based Ware Malcomb, the new self-storage facility at 3625 S. Grand Ave. replaced a former nine-story storage facility that was demolished.

Sitting at more than 260,000 square feet, the new Public Storage building hosts 4,448 storage units ranging in size and includes a mix of climate-controlled spaces.

The goal was “to maximize the potential floor area ratio” as well as modernize the space, Francisco Arias, director of design at Ware Malcomb, said.

Part of this modernization was designing with sustainable elements including LED, motion sensor-controlled lighting and a roof designed to hold solar panels – which has become a new business line for Public Storage in the form of sold energy.

“This space not only addresses a scarcity of undeveloped land, but also delivers a sustainable approach to urban development,” Alicia Zaro, principal at Ware Malcomb, said.

Other improvements compared to the old building include air conditioning, a fire suppression system, seismic structural design and enhanced security, Zaro said.

“It transforms a once sprawling facility into a state-of-the-art storage hub, streamlining operations and elevating the overall customer experience,” she said.

In terms of the aesthetic, Arias highlighted the firm’s “(combined use of) composite metal panels and articulated corners with glazing.” Seven stories of storage sit on top of a garage which can hold 41 cars and 120 bicycles. There’s also an off-street loading zone and a retail area to purchase packing supplies.

Self-storage opportunity

Operating a storage facility in proximity to a college campus like USC can prove quite lucrative, according to Modern Storage Media. This is because rents are typically higher near universities, limiting the amount of competition as many operators can’t afford to set up shop. An established storage giant like Public Storage, which is headquartered in Glendale, does not have as much financial limitation as other storage providers and can rely on the consistent demand of college students utilizing its facility.

Additionally, western states like California, Washington and Oregon are seeing the highest demand for self-storage in the U.S., according to research by StorageCafe, which analyzed over 500 metro areas.

In California, demand stems from high housing costs, frequent moves and roommate trends, with a greater number of people living in households together than in other states, the report found.