Signs of Activity Are Heating Up in Detroit – 11/12/12

Nov 12, 2012

Exterior Sign Rendering 03 - U-Haul NBC-Nabisco Building Detroit

Inside and outside, things are definitely buzzing at U-Haul Moving and Self-Storage of Detroit this week.

Sign of Things to Come

Soon, two new U-Haul modular signs will grace the top of this magnificent building. Each letter of the sign will measure  7 feet tall and  7 feet wide, with one foot of space between each letter. The overall length of each sign will be 39 feet!

Full Steam Ahead

Main Steam Line - U-Haul NBC-Nabisco Building Detroit

The main steam line has been brought into the building and is running under the new showroom floor. The line is fastened with special hangers below the floor that are wrapped to retain the heat that the steam line will generate. The pipes weigh 20 lbs per foot and come in 21′ lengths, needless to say, they are heavy!

Steam Line Under Showroom Floor - U-Haul NBC-Nabisco Building Detroit

This part of the installation is the most time consuming. It takes a lot of skill to handle them in the tight quarters under the floor. The work is a coordinated effort involving steamfitters, HVAC techs, plumbers and pipe fitters. At times, the activity under the showroom floor resembled a busy intersection in need of a traffic cop.

Lights Out Is a Good Thing

Electric Panels - U-Haul NBC-Nabisco Building Detroit

We lost power last week, but that was a good thing. The electricians shut down the power last Saturday to complete the installation of six new electrical panels in the south side of the basement. This Monday and Tuesday it will be lights out again (intermittently) as they start work on the north side. The work is challenging because the electricians are working with high voltage in a very cold basement, all with battery-powered lights.

A Facelift and an Apron

Exterior Brickwork - U-Haul NBC-Nabisco Building Detroit

Outside, the showroom entrance area is getting some cosmetic and functional attention. Brick masons are performing a minor face-lift, replacing the exterior bricks around the cargo entrance we widened to lower the Bobcat into the basement. It will take a couple of days for the mortar to set and then we will install the new door.

Concrete Apron - U-Haul NBC-Nabisco Building Detroit

Water collecting around the foundation of a building is definitely not a good thing. It causes safety issues, particularly in winter. Water leaking into the building can cause potential long-term structural damage. To combat these issues, we’ve constructed a concrete apron and trench drains to carry water away from the entrance and into a catch basin.

A Towering Question Answered

Last week I asked if anyone knew why the four towers of the NBC-Nabisco building were constructed above the roof. They were so constructed because the pressure tanks for the automatic sprinkler system, as well as tanks for the house supply of water were placed inside them. As a result, the tanks were protected from the weather and could be easily inspected and maintained.

That’s it for this week! As a reminder, this blog was created to let the community know that U-Haul is in Detroit, and to share our plans with you and to get input from the community. We want to hear from you. Tell us what you like and don’t like about our posts, building plans or anything else you want to share about Detroit. We are excited to be part of the Detroit community and want to learn from you!

Stay tuned. Next update 11/19.

–Pref

More articles like this one…

What’s New

Veterans Day 2023: U-Haul Shows Support in 3 Parades

Veterans Day 2023: U-Haul Shows Support in 3 Parades

From the Big Apple to the Valley of the Sun, U-Haul Team Members honored our nation’s heroes by participating in three Veterans Day Parades on Nov. 11. The ongoing U-Haul commitment to veterans -- and support of Veterans Day parades to honor them -- derives from the...

U-Haul Bakes Pizzas with Purpose at St. Vincent de Paul

U-Haul Bakes Pizzas with Purpose at St. Vincent de Paul

What do delicious homemade pizza and Team U-Haul have in common? They were both recently found at St. Vincent de Paul’s main campus in Phoenix during a volunteer event where U-Haul Team Members and other volunteers prepared 150 pies for people in need of food. For...

Serving Meals at André House Brings Joy to U-Haul Volunteers

Serving Meals at André House Brings Joy to U-Haul Volunteers

Located in a bustling section of Phoenix, André House serves hundreds of people each day who are currently experiencing homelessness. The nonprofit generously provides a variety of resources to help people get back on their feet, including free hot meals, drinking...

U-Haul Makes Meals to Help Families at Ronald McDonald House

U-Haul Makes Meals to Help Families at Ronald McDonald House

For more than 37 years, Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) of Central and Northern Arizona has provided a “home away from home” for families traveling to the Valley to obtain medical care for their children. At the Roanoke House in Midtown Phoenix and other...

U-Haul and VVA Unite to Serve Veterans

U-Haul and VVA Unite to Serve Veterans

Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), an organization founded in 1978 to support and advocate for veterans of the Vietnam War, serves by the motto “never again will one generation of veterans abandon another.” VVA’s goal is to promote the well-being of all veterans and...