Steve Levenson, Vice President of Development HomeFed Corporation, described the design, approvals, and construction process for the execution of Escaya Self-Storage as “almost easy.” Why? A Magellan-driven design approach and coordination effort demonstrates why.

Village of Escaya, a 23,000 acre village development in Chula Vista, has been described as one of the largest and most successful master-planned communities in the United States. The community offers a village-like environment that intersects with modern amenities. The Escaya Self-Storage facility is a vital component of the community and contributes to why it
is so successful.

The residents of Village of Escaya are held to CC&R’s that limit the use of their garages to strictly vehicle storage in order to maintain the visual intent of the community. As a result, many community members have looked to alternate means of storage space nearby. The Escaya Self-Storage facility meets that need. The 128,000 square foot, 3-story building provides a variety of unit size options including ground level drive-up units in addition to exterior RV storage, an unconventional Self-Storage option.

The Magellan Team approached design with a sensitivity to the project’s site. Yasser Mohamed, Escaya Self-Storage’s Project Designer, shares that “we used the aesthetic and materiality of the residential community to inspire the design of the exterior facades.”

“The final product reflects what was envisioned for this project and the client was happy and ready to commence the next one given that it was such an easy process for them. That’s an ode to client retention.”

—Ulysses Carmona, Escaya Self-Storage’s Project Manager

With a keen attention to detail and decades of experience in the industry, Magellan produced a building that is not your typical Self-Storage facility.

The nature of the project initially posed coordination challenges for the Magellan Team that ultimately inspired innovative solutions. The significant slope of the existing land would have required the exporting of soil and a retaining wall around the site in order to flatten the building pad – a necessary condition to achieve accessibility at the exterior storage units. To save the client cost and to preserve the look of the project, the Magellan Team incorporated a 1% slope into the overall footprint, resulting in enough grade change that both ends of the building could be accessed from ground level.

The site further challenged the team given its proximity to a local landfill. The creation of a methane gas control system became a necessary addition to the project. With the help of a methane specialist, the Magellan Team coordinated a system devised of sub-slab membrane details, monitoring probes, and vent risers.

Given the nature of its use, self-storage facilities are not often occupied by its users. Nonetheless, it is still important for us, as the designers and architects, to do our part as stewards of the environment. Magellan’s passion for responsible design drove decisions to incorporate motion sensors on all light fixtures, water-saving plumbing fixtures, and EV charging stalls. In addition, the building is fully electrified and meets all requirements of Cal Green guidelines and California Title 24.

The need for beautifully and responsibly designed self-storage facilities will continue to increase. Ulysses Carmona, Escaya Self-Storage’s Project Manager claims that “as a board member of a community with CC&R’s it has been brought to my attention that many new residential developments are now and will be enforcing requirements similar to Village of Escaya that limits the use of residential garages. I believe self-storage facilities will be implemented in future residential developments to address the needs of their residents.” Incorporating a building that is conscious of its surroundings and prioritizes the needs of the people will help drive the success of future communities.

“The final product reflects what was envisioned for this project and the client was happy and ready to commence the next one given that it was such an easy process for them. That’s an ode to client retention.”

—Ulysses Carmona, Escaya Self-Storage’s Project Manager