Steady modest growth is expected to flow through the self-storage industry in post-boom 2026, as it “has matured into a sector capable of sustaining itself even amid headwinds,” according to Multi-Housing News (MHN).
As an architect to the self-storage industry, we also well know that big life events such as decluttering, divorce, death, or downsizing continue to drive demand for these storage facilities regardless of the economy’s pendulum swings.
Latest Storage of America Opens in Aurora
So it is that in late 2025, we completed a new construction for Storage of America (SoA) in Aurora, Illinois. As our long-time client, SoA continues to bring a vibrant brush to the community it teams up with, including in Aurora through the Lake Street 31 Development. Through the conversion of an old Carson Pirie Scott department store (aka Carson’s), we were proud to partner with SoA to harmonize the aesthetics of the surroundings while adding a multiple-use site with key anchors such as the Department of Motor Vehicles to benefit the people in the neighborhoods nearby.
The plan for this self-storage site involved completely renovating an unused single-story department store. Fortunately, we’ve worked alongside SoA before—for instance, on their St. Louis, Missouri, location. Now, with this new location, Storage of America has increased their footprint, offering self-storage amenities to Aurora’s citizens, which complement facilities across the Midwest, including in Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan.
We love nothing better than seeing a blighted building transformed into a beneficial human space—in this case, one delivering indoor, climate-controlled self-storage for the community. This family-owned facility also accommodates drive-up storage needs, for easy-as-pie loading and unloading. Some locations of SoA provide car, boat, and RV storage (but check in first to see which do and do not).
Under our consultation, the building and site underwent an extensive interior and exterior redesign, to blend with the neighborhood’s existing architecture. We provided all planning and zoning submittals from renderings and design to presentations for the public hearings, ultimately securing both the community’s and city’s approval. Once approved we and our team of engineering consultants completed the construction drawings and received the necessary permit approvals from the city to construct the project.
“This was an exciting and challenging project. We enjoyed working with the client, Storage of America, and the City of Aurora to create a positive, functional development in this important business corridor. Interrupted by the 2020 pandemic, the project had a restart and subsequent construction that proved as challenging as the planning and design. In the end, the community, the client, and the city, as well as the many contractors and consultants, all came together to make the project a success.“
Self-Storage and Then Some
In addition to the self-storage business, this location has available tenant spaces and is actively adding more small businesses to the development. So far, the building has attracted a community location where citizens can obtain their auto-related services.
Specifically, a DMV+ recently opened at 970 N. Lake Street. By relocating near Storage of America, the DMV has doubled the size of their facility, providing a one-stop-shop for people and businesses needing auto and licensing services. A large parking lot there will additionally accommodate a future motorcycle-testing course.
SoA can be found online here.
Of course we must thank our wonderful team for all of their hard work and expertise: Civil Engineer Atwell, MEP Engineer Architectural Design Guild, and Structural Engineer Larson Engineering.
Self-Storage Remains a Sound Investment
Self-storage investing remains a resilient part of an investment portfolio into 2026, and beyond the broader economic climate, recent Federal Reserve rate cuts “should further support stabilization” and even generate some “steadier growth” (MHN).
Whenever and wherever that likely growth in the self-storage industry may happen, Henderson Architects has decades of experience in storage, so we are here to support and guide would-be or existing self-storage developers, investors, and managers through the complex process. Get in touch with us today.