U-Haul Saddle Brook, NJ — A 124,846 SF self-storage and truck rental facility delivered as a true design-build project with zero change orders to the owner.
$15M quoted. $15M delivered. Zero change orders.
U-Haul needed to redevelop their Saddle Brook NJ location into a modern new self-storage and rental facility, and they hired Deugen to handle the whole thing; design, permits, construction.
We took it on as both the fee developer and design-build contractor, which meant we owned the full process.
The goal was straightforward: replace an aging facility with a larger, higher performing site while keeping the project on schedule and on budget.
What followed was a four-story, 124,846 SF facility delivered at $15M with zero change orders to the owner.
The Challenges
This project wasn’t just about building new storage units. We had to demolish an aging facility and redevelop an active U-Haul site while business kept running.
That meant we were dealing with live truck rental operations, constant customer access, heavy Route 46 traffic, and the kind of site constraints that can throw a project off course fast if you don’t handle them early.
There were also underground sewer lines serving adjacent properties running right beneath the building footprint. Those couldn’t be disrupted. On top of that, weak soils required ground improvements, and contaminated pockets had to be carefully remediated.
Any one of those issues could’ve created schedule delays or a pile of change orders on a typical job.
This is where most projects start to drift. Design moves ahead without construction input, field conditions create conflict, and the owner ends up dealing with delays and change orders. We knew we had to avoid that from day one.
The Process
We ran this as a true design-build project with design, budgeting, entitlement work, and construction all under one team.
Before we broke ground, we focused on how the site needed to function during construction and after completion. That meant planning around customer access, truck circulation, safety, and long-term usability — not just hitting square footage targets.
When issues came up, we handled them internally. We made adjustments early, before they became bigger problems in the field.
We also worked closely with the municipality to pursue phased turnover. By prioritizing life-safety systems and the first-floor retail and truck rental areas, U-Haul was able to start generating revenue before the full project was complete.
Developing design and budget in parallel so pricing reflected actual site conditions in real time
Manage permitting, engineering, and municipal coordination early to avoid delays later
Sequence construction in phases to keep the site operational
Coordinate trades closely to maintain progress and minimize disruption
From project issuance to TCO, the project was delivered in 11 months and 4 days.
The Results
Four-story self-storage and truck rental facility completed in Saddle Brook, NJ
This is what a strong commercial construction case study looks like — not just a finished building, but a project delivered with control, coordination, and cost certainty.
Conclusion
This project shows what is possible when a design-build self storage project is structured correctly from the beginning.
By aligning design, budgeting, and construction under one team, Deugen was able to deliver a large-scale self storage construction NJ project with clear accountability, steady execution, and no change orders.
For U-Haul, that meant a modernized facility delivered without disruption and without added cost. For NJ developers and investors planning similar projects, it’s proof that the right process leads to predictable outcomes.
Ready to Build With a Partner You Can Trust?
Tell us about your project. Whether you are in early planning or have site plan approval in hand, Deugen provides a free initial consultation to help you understand your options, budget, and timeline — with zero obligation.