Adaptive Reuse at U-Haul Moving & Storage at Central Square

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844 Main St Cambridge, MA 02139
(, Central Square Cambridge)

(617) 354-0500

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(617) 354-0500

844 Main St
Cambridge, MA 02139
(, Central Square Cambridge)

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Mon-Thur: 7 am–7 pm
Fri: 7 am–8 pm
Sat: 7 am–7 pm
Sun: 9 am–5 pm

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Adaptive Reuse in Cambridge, MA at U-Haul Moving & Storage at Central Square

Building History

With its unique bowtie emblem, the Chevrolet Motor Company launched in Detroit in 1914. Four years later, General Motors Corporation would acquire Chevrolet. Chevrolet modified their brand throughout the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s, eventually joining the list of the “Low-priced Three” with Ford and Plymouth. The Seymour Chevrolet Company building was built in 1940 and, within two years, virtually all civilian car production was suspended. Between 1942 and 1945 the automotive industry modified its factories to manufacture goods and fill defense contracts for World War II. GM (General Motors) had 400,000 employees at 112 plants devoting 95 percent of company output to the war effort.

After World War II ended, Seymour Chevrolet Company served the Cambridge community for three decades. U-Haul acquired the automobile showroom building in 1976. 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.

Environmental Impact

Serving U-Haul customers since 1976, 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:

55 tons of metal manufacturing & transportation prevented
4,525 tons of new concrete pours avoided
4,608 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 Cambridge community:

2,050,275 lbs greenhouse gas emissions prevented

Steel Production 55 tons (50 tonnes) of steel manufacturing and delivery saved to date
Energy 0 kWh annual energy savings
Concrete 4,525 tons (4,106 tonnes) of new concrete pours avoided to date
Emissions 2,050,275 lbs (929,999 kgs) of greenhouse gas emissions prevented
Landfill Debris 4,608 lbs (4,181 kgs) of construction debris prevented