Case Study: Custom 24ft Storage Building for Sandia National Laboratories
Sandia National Laboratories needed a secure equipment and storage building for its Livermore, California campus, but a standard 20ft or 40ft container did not match the project requirements.
The structure needed a custom 24ft footprint, wide access for wheeled equipment, flexible interior storage, natural daylight, ventilation, and accessible entry at both openings. The goal was to create a compact building that could support changing storage needs without depending on a permanent utility connection.
Conexwest developed a new 24ft high cube non-ISO container around those requirements, combining custom fabrication with large roll-up doors, engineered access ramps, adjustable shelving, skylights, and solar-powered ventilation.
Built for a Custom 24ft Footprint
Most shipping container projects begin with standard sizes such as 20ft or 40ft. For Sandia, neither standard option matched the space and operational requirements of the site.
The solution was a purpose-built 24ft high cube non-ISO container fabricated specifically for the project.
The custom length gave Sandia the interior room needed for equipment staging and organized storage without forcing the project into a larger 40ft footprint.
The finished container was prepped, primed, and painted RAL 5017 Traffic Blue, creating the bright blue exterior visible throughout the completed build.
Two Large Roll-Up Doors for Equipment Access
The building needed to support wheeled equipment rather than function as a storage room accessed only through standard cargo or personnel doors.
Conexwest installed two 10ft x 8ft manual roll-up doors along the side of the container. Each opening used a 26-gauge galvanized steel curtain and exterior locking hardware.
The wide openings provide direct access into separate areas of the building and make it easier to move equipment in and out without routing everything through one end of the container.
The completed project shows how significantly large side openings can change the way a container functions. With both roll-up doors raised, the interior becomes much more accessible for equipment staging and daily storage operations.
Designing Accessibility Into the Building
Accessibility was treated as a design requirement from the beginning rather than something to be addressed after the container reached the site.
Each roll-up door was paired with a 10ft-wide steel ramp designed at a 1:12 slope. The ramps were engineered and detailed as part of the drawing package rather than added later as stock accessories.
That distinction matters because adding a ramp by itself does not automatically create an accessible entrance. Ramp slope, threshold height, opening width, and the relationship between the container floor and surrounding grade all have to work together.
For Sandia, those conditions were considered before fabrication so the access system could be developed as part of the building.
Flexible Storage Instead of Fixed Shelving
Sandia also needed the interior layout to change as equipment and inventory changed.
Rather than welding permanent shelves into the structure, the interior received twelve adjustable three-level Unistrut shelving units.
Each shelving unit measures 48 inches wide by 24 inches deep. The adjustable system allows shelf heights to be repositioned as storage requirements change without cutting or rewelding the shelving.
This gives the laboratory greater flexibility when storing equipment, tools, supplies, and other materials of different sizes.
Natural Light Without Using Wall Space
A steel container can become dark quickly once its doors are closed, especially when most of the available wall space is needed for storage.
Three 24in x 48in skylights were integrated into the roof to bring natural daylight into the interior without taking away space that could otherwise be used for shelving or equipment.
For a storage and staging building, roof-mounted daylighting provided a practical way to make the interior easier to use while keeping the walls available for organization.
Solar-Powered Ventilation Without a Utility Connection
Ventilation was designed around the same goal of reducing dependence on permanent utilities.
Two solar-powered roof vents were integrated into the structure to provide air movement without requiring a dedicated electrical connection.
Together, the skylights and solar vents allow the building to use natural daylight and solar-powered ventilation while remaining suitable for an equipment storage and staging application.
Security for Stored Equipment
Wide equipment openings still needed to be secure when the building was not in use.
The roll-up doors were equipped with exterior locking hasps, while an ISO lockbox provided additional protection at the container's main locking point.
The combination gave Sandia the large openings needed for everyday equipment movement while maintaining secure closure after operations ended.
Project Specifications
| Client | Sandia National Laboratories |
|---|---|
| Location | Livermore, California |
| Application | Equipment storage and staging building |
| Container | One new 24ft high cube non-ISO container |
| Exterior finish | RAL 5017 Traffic Blue |
| Roll-up doors | Two 10ft x 8ft manual roll-up doors |
| Door curtains | 26-gauge galvanized steel |
| Access ramps | Two 10ft-wide steel ramps |
| Ramp slope | 1:12 |
| Shelving | Twelve adjustable three-level Unistrut shelving units |
| Shelf size | 48in wide x 24in deep |
| Daylighting | Three 24in x 48in skylights |
| Ventilation | Two solar-powered roof vents |
| Security | Exterior locking hasps and ISO lockbox |
| Delivery | Tilt-bed transport |
| Timeline | Approximately one month from order to shipment |
From Order to Shipment in About One Month
The project moved from order to shipment in approximately one month, with shop drawings released during the fabrication cycle.
Because the building included a custom container length, large sidewall openings, steel access ramps, adjustable shelving, skylights, and roof ventilation, the design package had to coordinate all of those components before the finished unit was ready for delivery.
Much of the work was completed through custom container fabrication before the structure reached the Livermore campus.
Why This Project Matters
The Sandia project demonstrates why accessibility and everyday usability need to be considered during design rather than treated as finishing details.
A shipping container can provide a durable starting structure, but the finished building still has to work for the people, equipment, and site around it.
For this project, that meant fabricating a custom 24ft shell instead of forcing the application into a standard size, creating two large equipment openings, designing the ramps around those entrances, providing adjustable storage, and adding daylight and ventilation without requiring permanent utilities.
The container was not simply modified for storage. It was developed around how Sandia needed to use the building.
Where Else Could This Type of Build Be Used?
The same approach could be adapted for organizations that need secure equipment storage with wide access, flexible organization, and minimal utility requirements.
- Research and laboratory campuses
- Government facilities
- Equipment staging buildings
- Maintenance and operations departments
- Utility and infrastructure sites
- Industrial tool and parts storage
- Parks and public works departments
- Campus operations facilities
The container size, doors, ramps, shelving, ventilation, security features, and interior organization can all be adjusted around the equipment being stored and the requirements of the site.
Planning a Custom Equipment Storage Building?
Conexwest provides shipping container modifications and custom fabrication for commercial, industrial, government, and specialty projects.
Projects can incorporate non-standard container dimensions, roll-up doors, custom access, shelving, skylights, ventilation, electrical systems, insulation, security features, custom paint, and other modifications based on how the finished space needs to function.