Adaptive Reuse at U-Haul Moving & Storage of Park Slope

The 1950s and 60s were known for well-dressed men in business suits—a trend glorified in today's popular television show "Mad Men." Those lucky enough to live in Brooklyn, New York, during this time would have been near the brand-new Eagle Clothes factory which opened in June 1951. According to an article in The New York Times, the factory housed all of the clothing company's operations and was "scientifically designed and built to meet the needs of employees." It truly was the most modern and efficient factory in the men's clothing industry at that time. And with Rock Hudson and Gregory Peck endorsing these dapper threads, men would have jumped at the chance to purchase a suit made by Eagle Clothes. After soaring to the height of the "working man's suit" industry, Eagle Clothes plummeted during the 1970s before declaring bankruptcy and going out of business. In 1977, U-Haul purchased this building and converted it to a moving and self-storage center. The building was re-imaged to match the design of many U-Haul Centers throughout the nation, and the interior was repurposed to house a showroom, self-storage units and a hitch bay.

The Sign

Those who live in the Park Slope and Gowanus boroughs of Brooklyn are probably very familiar with the original Eagle Clothes sign on top of the building. U-Haul is a leader in the field of reuse development and strives to maintain historical and cultural landmarks in all of our revitalization projects. The Eagle Clothes sign is no exception. We are working diligently to maintain the original neon sign that provided so many memories to those who originally lived in or passed through community during that time. Though this old building has outlived its original purpose as a clothing factory, it lives on through our moving and self-storage customers, and the gorgeous sign atop the building is a constant reminder of our treasured past.

Au service des clients depuis 1977, cet emplacement a été construit par réutilisation adaptative d'un bâtiment abandonné. La réutilisation adaptative favorise l'aménagement intercalaire dans le but de renforcer les communautés. Parmi les bienfaits obtenus, la réutilisation a permis d'éviter :

• la fabrication et le transport de 457 tonnes de métal
• le coulage de 34 193 tonnes de nouveau béton
• 51 831 tonnes de débris de construction et de démolition

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

• réaliser des économies de 563 281 kWh par année
• 16 148 275 livres d'émissions de gaz à effet de serre

• 

  Production de l'acier La fabrication et le transport de 457 tonnes (415 tonnes métriques) d'acier ont été évités à ce jour

• 

  Énergie Économies de 563 281 kWh par année

• 

  Béton Coulage de 34 193 tonnes (31 028 tonnes) de nouveau béton évité à ce jour.

• 

  Émissions 16 148 275 lb (7 324 809 kgs) d'émissions de gaz à effet de serre ont été évitées

• 

  Débris pour les sites d'enfouissement 51 831 lb (47 034 kg) de débris de construction ont été évitées

• U-Haul Moving & Storage de Parkslope