Sustainability through Academic Partnerships

May 23, 2015

untitled

When companies and universities work collaboratively to push the frontiers of knowledge, they become a powerful engine for innovation in urban development and sustainability. For decades U-Haul has collaborated with many of the respected universities. Our contributions include partnering on and funding research programs, sharing technical expertise, and offering specialized internships.

In the summer of 2012, U-Haul engaged Wayne State University to conduct a research project looking into the impact of an adaptive building reuse project on the New Center neighborhood and the city of Detroit. Professors and Graduate students from the Master of Urban Planning program have chosen to lead the two-phase study since then.

The research project studies the social, environmental and economic effects of U-Haul’s adaptation of the 90-plus-year-old, formerly vacant National Biscuit Company (NBC) building (Nabisco) into a self-storage and rental facility. The scholars from Wayne State University believe that adapting an existing building nearly always has lower environmental costs than building a new one. U-Haul adaptive reuse initiative in Midtown Detroit helps avoid enormous amounts of C&D waste and greenhouse gas emissions.

PIC_0151PIC_0255-1024x576PIC_0128-1024x576

“We will be a national brand name investing in the New Center community. We will provide a safe, acceptable refuge for urban pioneers as they reenter and secure their new residences and businesses in the area,” says Joe Shoen, CEO of U-Haul International. “Our entry will reinforce efforts made by others to stabilize the area.”

Another objective of the sponsored research is to determine whether people used U-Haul services to move to more stable and thriving neighborhoods nationwide. A Phase II study will be launched soon to build a case study focusing on profound social and economic changes accompanying adaptive reuse of existing buildings like the NBC building.

This is a publication of U-Haul Corporate Sustainability

 

What sustainability projects have you worked on? Tell us in the comments!

More articles like this one…

What’s New

Ringing Endorsement: U-Haul Marks 80 Years of Serving DIY Movers

Ringing Endorsement: U-Haul Marks 80 Years of Serving DIY Movers

Tribute Journey Fleet Week Afternoon Tea honoring Gold Star Families preceded the closing bell ceremony In a historic moment, U-Haul commemorated its 80th anniversary of moving people to a better life by ringing the New York Stock Exchange closing bell on May 23 to...

U-Haul to Ring in 80th Anniversary as Moving Season Gets Started

U-Haul to Ring in 80th Anniversary as Moving Season Gets Started

U-Haul® will symbolically kick off “moving season” on Friday with the ringing of the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange. The ceremony will also mark the start of a special summer for the do-it-yourself moving and self-storage leader, which is celebrating 80...

U-Haul Food Drive Benefits Arizona Nonprofit St. Vincent de Paul

U-Haul Food Drive Benefits Arizona Nonprofit St. Vincent de Paul

Team Members donated more than 2,500 pounds of food and water during a recent food drive at U-Haul® headquarters in Phoenix to support local charity partner St. Vincent de Paul. SVdP, with the help of partners like U-Haul and caring volunteers, makes a tremendous...

Northern Exposure: U-Haul Trucks Reach Remote Alaskan Town of Craig

Northern Exposure: U-Haul Trucks Reach Remote Alaskan Town of Craig

U-Haul “8 for 80” Dealer Series In celebration of our 80th anniversary in 2025, we are highlighting eight small businesses serving as U-Haul dealers who have teamed with us to bring DIY moving products and services to their communities. These dealers may be old or...

The U-Haul Toy Hauler: Will My Large SUV or Truck Fit?

The U-Haul Toy Hauler: Will My Large SUV or Truck Fit?

With certain limitations and exceptions, here is just a sampling of the vehicles that can be towed by the U-Haul Toy Hauler trailer that would not fit on the U-Haul Auto Transport: BMW X7Cadillac EscaladeChevy AvalancheChevy Silverado 1500-3500Chevy SuburbanChevy...