Innovative Integration: Meeting Self Storage & Daycare Needs in Rhode Island

Nestled on a peninsula between the serene waters of Narragansett and Mount Hope Bays, Bristol, Rhode Island provides a quintessential New England experience with its historic downtown, vibrant waterfront, and a world-renowned Fourth of July celebration. Bristol is highly desired for its variety of outdoor activities, delicious seafood restaurants, a relaxed atmosphere and, above all, a strong sense of community. It is also home to DXD Managing Director of Construction, Scott Hughes.

When driving along the street of Mt. Hope, between Metacom and Dewolf Avenues, you’ll find what looks like a newly constructed condominium complex. Its stylish brick and stone facade intertwined with wood siding makes it the perfect addition to the surrounding neighborhood. The only difference between this building and others is that it’s not a condominium complex at all. It’s a self storage facility.

This impressive facility, managed by Extra Space Storage, boasts 88,620 square feet and 750 storage units. The facility's exterior utilizes local design elements, which aren't typical for many of today’s new self storage facilities.

DXD purchased the land in 2020, yet it took two years to finalize an architectural plan that fit within the strict historic design codes for the area. Meticulously designing a building that blended with the community wasn’t the only challenge DXD faced. An existing daycare center was on the property within the proposed footprint of the new self storage facility.

Established in 2017 by owner Trina Demello, “Bristol’s Li’l Angels” caters to  the community’s childcare needs. This location is well known in the community since it has been operating as a daycare since 1990. Realizing quickly that the center was an integral part of the community, DXD designed the site plan to include a new, state-of-the-art childcare facility for Bristol’s Li’l Angels.

With the intention of constructing a best-in-class daycare, utilizing valuable input from Ms. Demello, the new 2,550 SF facility includes a 3,000 SF fenced-in playground and sizable grassy event space. Every room has a fully access-controlled security system with multiple cameras, door buzzers, an intercom system, and panic buttons. Each classroom has dedicated bathrooms, some of which are adapted with toddler-size toilets and sinks.

“The doors are amazing,” Trina commented as she explained the noise issues that occur when sleeping babies are in a nursery and toddlers are playing loudly in the preschool classrooms. With the new layout and insulated doors, she hasn’t had as much of an issue as before. “It’s much more harmonious in here.”

By January 2024, Trina had moved into her new building and was once again caring for the community's children.

Extra Space Storage officially began its operations on June 19, 2024.

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