Case Study: City of South Jordan
Discover how Material Handling USA installed mobile shelving for records storage at the City of South Jordan City Hall in South Jordan, Utah.
About the City of South Jordan
The City of South Jordan is a growing municipality in the southwest corner of the Salt Lake Valley, with a population of more than 80,000 residents. South Jordan City Hall at 1600 W. Towne Center Drive serves as the administrative center for city government operations, housing departments that manage permits, planning, public works, utilities, finance, and constituent services. As the city has grown, so have the administrative records, documents, and materials that city staff need to store, organize, and access daily.
Conceptual illustration of mobile shelving for municipal records storage
60%Floor Space Saved
2xRecords Capacity
100%Organized
FastFile Retrieval
The Situation
Municipal governments generate and retain large volumes of records. Permits, building plans, zoning documents, financial records, meeting minutes, constituent correspondence, and regulatory filings accumulate steadily as a city grows. South Jordan’s rapid population growth over the past two decades has accelerated that accumulation, putting increasing pressure on city hall’s administrative storage capacity.
Conceptual illustration of mobile shelving for municipal records storage
The city needed a storage solution that could accommodate current document volumes and future growth without requiring a building expansion or off-site storage facility. The solution needed to keep records organized and accessible for city staff while maintaining the professional environment expected in a government administration building.
High-density mobile shelving helps South Jordan City Hall manage growing volumes of municipal records within existing office space.
The Solution
Material Handling USA designed and installed an mechanical-assist mobile shelving system at South Jordan City Hall. The system features multiple high-density carriages mounted on a floor-level track with seven shelf levels per section, providing substantial vertical storage capacity. Each carriage operates with an ergonomic three-spoke handle and is equipped with label holders for organized identification of contents.
The the system was configured with open cubby-style shelving sections suitable for storing boxed records, binders, archived files, and operational supplies. The twin ramp track system was installed directly on the existing floor, eliminating the need for a raised sub-floor and minimizing disruption to city hall operations during installation. The project was procured through State of Utah Contract #MA1231, streamlining the procurement process for the city.
Features
Seven Shelf Levels
Each section includes seven adjustable shelf levels, maximizing vertical storage capacity from floor to ceiling within each carriage.
Mechanical-Assist Drive
Three-spoke ergonomic handles with integrated safety locks provide smooth carriage movement that any staff member can operate.
Label Holders
Built-in label holders on each carriage end panel allow city staff to identify contents by department, date range, or document type without opening aisles.
Twin Ramp Track
Floor-level track installation eliminates the need for a sub-floor, reducing installation cost and minimizing impact on existing building infrastructure.
State Contract Pricing
The system was procured through State of Utah Contract #MA1231, providing competitive pricing and simplified procurement for the municipality.
Professional Appearance
Clean, neutral-finish steel end panels and shelving provide a professional look appropriate for a city government administration building.
Advantage
The primary advantage of mobile shelving for a municipal government is the ability to store growing volumes of records within the existing city hall building without a costly expansion. By eliminating multiple fixed aisles and compacting shelving rows together, the the system stores the same volume of materials in roughly half the floor space that static shelving or filing cabinets would require.
For a city government operating with taxpayer funds, the cost efficiency of mobile shelving is significant. Avoiding a building addition or leasing off-site storage space saves public funds that can be directed to city services. The State of Utah cooperative contract pricing further reduces the total cost of the project.
Benefits
Records Compliance
Utah municipalities are subject to state records retention laws that require certain documents to be preserved for defined periods. The organized, high-capacity storage provided by mobile shelving helps the City of South Jordan maintain compliance with retention requirements without dedicating excessive floor space to archives.
Departmental Organization
Label holders and adjustable shelving allow records to be organized by department, fiscal year, or document category. City staff across multiple departments can quickly locate the files they need.
Growth Capacity
With seven shelf levels and the ability to add additional carriages to the existing rail system, the mobile shelving system can accommodate years of future records growth without modification to the city hall building.
Security
When aisles are closed, the compacted shelving units form a secure enclosed storage system that restricts casual access to city records.
Warehouse layout blueprint — each system is custom-designed for the facility
Location
South Jordan, UT
Product
Mobile Shelving
Application
Municipal Records
Status
Completed
Return on Investment
The return on investment for mobile shelving in a municipal building is driven by facility cost avoidance. Building additions to government facilities require capital bond funding, architectural design, construction, and years of planning. Mobile shelving allows the city to accommodate records growth within the existing structure, deferring or eliminating the need for a building expansion.
Operational efficiencies add additional value. Faster document retrieval, better organization, and reduced staff time spent managing physical records all contribute to more efficient city government operations. The the system’s limited lifetime warranty and minimal maintenance requirements keep ongoing costs near zero.
Installation and Project Process
Material Handling USA managed the South Jordan City Hall project from design through completed installation, with delivery and installation completed in approximately four to six weeks from order.
Space Assessment
Our team evaluated the designated storage area within city hall, measuring room dimensions, floor conditions, and ceiling heights. We reviewed the city’s current records volumes and projected growth to determine the optimal system size.
System Design
The mobile shelving system was configured with seven shelf levels per section and the number of carriages needed to meet the city’s storage requirements. Track length and carriage positioning were designed to maximize capacity within the available room dimensions.
Professional Installation
Our installation crew handled track placement, carriage assembly, shelving configuration, and drive mechanism calibration. All packaging materials were removed, and the system was ready for immediate use upon completion.
Why This Matters for Utah Municipalities
South Jordan is one of the fastest-growing cities in the Salt Lake Valley, and many Utah municipalities face similar challenges with records storage capacity. Cities across the Wasatch Front, including West Jordan, Sandy, Draper, Riverton, Herriman, and Bluffdale, deal with the same accumulation of permits, plans, financial records, and administrative documents that comes with population growth.
Mobile shelving systems provide a proven, cost-effective solution for municipal records storage. Material Handling USA is based in Salt Lake City and serves government agencies throughout Utah, with products available through State of Utah cooperative purchasing contracts for simplified procurement.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do city governments use mobile shelving for?
City governments use mobile shelving to store permits, building plans, zoning documents, financial records, meeting minutes, constituent correspondence, and other administrative records that must be retained under state law.
Can mobile shelving be purchased through a state contract?
Yes. mobile shelving is available through State of Utah cooperative purchasing contracts, which provide pre-negotiated pricing and simplified procurement for government agencies.
How much space does mobile shelving save in a government building?
Mobile shelving typically saves 40% to 50% of floor space compared to static shelving or filing cabinets by eliminating multiple fixed aisles between rows.
Is mobile shelving secure for government records?
Yes. When aisles are closed, the compacted shelving units form an enclosed storage system. Optional locking mechanisms can restrict access to specific carriages or the entire system for sensitive records.
How long does mobile shelving installation take in a government building?
Most installations are completed within one to three days. Installation can be scheduled after hours or on weekends to minimize disruption to government operations.
Does Material Handling USA serve South Jordan and Salt Lake County?
Yes. Material Handling USA is based in Salt Lake City and provides mobile shelving design, delivery, and professional installation services throughout Salt Lake County, including South Jordan, West Jordan, Sandy, Draper, and Riverton. Request a free quote to get started.
What maintenance does mobile shelving require?
Mechanical-assist mobile shelving requires minimal maintenance. Periodic track cleaning and occasional lubrication are typically all that is needed. the systems are backed by a limited lifetime warranty.
Our Process
1
Assessment
On-site facility measurement and needs analysis
2
Design
Custom layout engineered for your space and workflow
3
Delivery
All components shipped and staged at your facility
4
Installation
Professional assembly, leveling, and anchoring
Our four-step process: Assessment, Design, Delivery, and Installation
Project Results
✓
On-time delivery & installation
✓
Custom-designed for facility
✓
Professional installation
Need Mobile Shelving for Your Government Building or Office in Utah?
Material Handling USA provides free consultations, custom designs, and professional installation for mobile shelving systems. Available through State of Utah cooperative contracts.