ome to several cowboy hat makers, Garland, Texas, proudly holds the title of the Cowboy Hat Capital of the Lone Star State. Catering to the storage needs of the city’s Western crowd is Public Storage, which opened just over a year ago.
Construction of the facility (owned by developer Hines, designed by DALLENBACH-COLE Architecture, and built by Reliable Construction) was completed in just 12 months following a challenging entitlement process that was needed to gain a special use permit, a city requirement. Today, the facility encompasses 90,650 net rentable square feet, boasting 820 units across two buildings on a “flag lot”—a narrow section of land followed by a larger parcel.
DALLENBACH-COLE Architecture placed the single-story office at the site’s entrance, giving it prominence; a second building behind it holds the bulk of its storage units and serves as a backdrop. The complex entitlements required office design, including a combination of brick, stucco, and metal panel accents, while incorporating canopies, a recessed entryway, large display windows, alcoves, planters, and distinctive lighting. The result reflects both Garland’s heritage and its growing modern identity.