Adaptive Reuse at U-Haul Moving & Storage at University Ave

John, Augustus, and William Mack founded the Mack Brothers Company in 1900. The brothers had previously owned the Fallesen & Berry Carriage Company and were familiar with the newly evolving automotive industry. The Mack Brothers Co. unveiled its first bus in New York City in 1900. Five years later, they expanded operations to build rail cars and locomotives, and moved the company's headquarters from Brooklyn to Allentown, Pennsylvania. 

During World War I, Mack Brothers Co. was the primary supplier of heavy-duty motorized vehicles to U.S. allies. The British soldiers used the Mack AC truck to supply the front lines with food, troops, and equipment. The British soldiers famously nicknamed the truck the “Bulldog”, due to its flat-nosed styling, durability and likeness to the “British Bulldog” symbolism of the time. The nickname was adopted into the official branding for Mack trucks both in the logo and eventually a hood ornament. In 1922, the Mack Brothers Company officially changed its name to Mack Trucks, Inc. 

Mack Trucks were utilized to build some of the U.S.’ most iconic projects, such as the Hoover Dam, the New York Subway System, the U.S. Interstate System, the Panama Canal Defense Project and the Empire State building. The company also provided over 35,000 units of prime movers, personnel carriers, wrecker trucks and tank transporters for the U.S. Allied forces during World War II. Mack Trucks have continually played an important part in U.S. history. 

After a century of success, Mack became a part of the Volvo Group. The company continues to create exciting new technologies and has now introduced electric trucks to its fleet. Mack Truck's headquarters are now located in Greensboro, North Carolina. 

The U-Haul Moving & Storage at University Ave was formerly a Mack Truck sales location. The building was originally constructed in 1926, and U-Haul acquired the site in 1977. Adaptive reuse building conversions allow U-Haul to promote infill development to meet citizens’ needs while preserving the natural resources and land normally required for new construction. Adaptive reuse also allows resources to be focused on integrating environmentally thoughtful features into the existing building rather than creating waste in the form of demolition and using valuable resources for new construction.

Serving U-Haul customers since 1977, this facility was built through adaptive reuse of an abandoned building. Adaptive reuse promotes infill development in an effort to strengthen communities, with the following benefits achieved at this site: 

• 282.2 tons of metal manufacturing & transportation prevented 
• 1,471.2 tons of new concrete pours avoided 
• 1,757.9 tons of construction and demolition debris prevented 

Energy-efficiency and waste-reduction programs at this facility provide the following estimated benefits each year for the Champaign community: 

• 10,465 kWh annual energy savings 
• 1,730,498 lbs greenhouse gas emissions prevented 

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  Steel Production 282 tons (256 tonnes) of steel manufacturing and delivery saved to date

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  Energy 10,465 kWh annual energy savings

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  Concrete 1,471 tons (1,335 tonnes) of new concrete pours avoided to date

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  Emissions 1,730,498 lbs (784,949 kgs) of greenhouse gas emissions prevented

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  Landfill Debris 1,758 lbs (1,595 kgs) of construction debris prevented

• Mack Trucks History
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