PARKING SYSTEM IN SKYSCRAPERS

OVERVIEW
● Parking as part of an overall transportation system is one of the crucial issues of our times. As the
number of automobiles increases exponentially around the world, the need to house them in close
proximity to destinations creates a challenging design problem.

● The parking facility or lot must foremost deal with the Functional/Operational—as in providing for
safe and efficient passage of the automobile and driver. This is a very complex challenge as
automotive, engineering and traffic issues relative to site locations must be integrated to create the
appropriate solution.

● Therefore designing the parking facility requires an integrated design approach of many
professionals. Parking has often been reduced to the construction of the most minimal stand-alone
structure or parking lot without human, aesthetic or integrative considerations.

● This has given parking a poor public perception and has frequently disrupted existing urban fabric.
However, many architects, engineers, and planners have envisioned and constructed far more
complex, aesthetic, and integrative structures. This should be the goal of good parking design.
OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE
● One of the important aspects of parking facilities is their operations and maintenance. The
constant use of parking facilities as an expected part of our infrastructure and as revenue
generating requires unique maintenance and operational needs. Maintenance is crucial
due to its complete exposure to the weather.
● Maintenance requires a specific program and checklist and the frequency for maintenance
(recommended and minimum). This list covers cleaning, doors and hardware, electrical,
elevators, HVAC, landscaping, painting, parking control equipment, plumbing, drainage,
and roofing, safety, security, signs and graphics, structural systems and waterproofing.
● The long-term maintenance of the concrete especially in freeze/thaw conditions is
especially important. Expansion and control joints are also an important part of this
maintenance. Lighting maintenance and control for the safety of the users is also crucial.
OPERATIONS
● Operating a parking facility requires interaction with the general public and many
legal rules and regulations.
● Financing, revenue and costs are critical to its functioning as a building type.
● Employee training and proper auditing processes are vital.
● No longer a cash only process, the parking facility now embraces many forms of
payment and different types of payment systems such as pay on foot.
● Often, it is owned and operated by a municipality or another entity such as an
airport and all of the interrelationships and requirements between these building
types and owners must be addressed.
● Transportation Demand Management is linked to parking facilities as well as
traffic engineering.
SAFETY AND SECURITY
Safety and security of the people using the facility are of paramount importance:
● Open, glass stairwells and glass-backed elevators.
● Security devices such as video, audio and emergency buttons that call into the booth or local
police station.
● Eliminate potential hiding places, such as under open stairs.
● Handicap accessibility with vehicles close to stair and elevator cores having a direct path to key
movement patterns of the facility.
● To avoid carbon monoxide build-up, air flow is adequately designed for
through mechanical and/or natural ventilation.
● Non-slip floor surface
● Cleanliness
● Design for the points of intersection between man and the automobile for adequate safety of
movement
● Energy efficient lighting is very important in facility safety but can pose problems
with spillage out of the facility onto neighboring communities. A balance
between daylighting, interior lighting and exterior control can be addressed in
many ways on the exterior design of the façade while providing adequate
lighting within. Lights should be vandal resistant and easy to maintain.
● Use CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design) whenever
appropriate along with technological equipment.
● Life safety is of key importance in any built structure and the parking garage is
no exception.
BASEMENT PARKING

● The Basement Parking space type refers to parking located below grade
within an occupied building. As defined for the WBDG, the Level of Service
(LOS) of the Inside/Basement Parking is LOS B, indicating use by some
unfamiliar users, moderate daily turnover, and medium percentage of small
cars and light trucks; and requiring one-way aisles of 11'-0" straight-ways and
13'- 6" turns.
ACCESSIBLE

● Parking Spaces and Entrances: Accessible parking spaces must be provided for
each parking structure associated with the building and calculated separately. At
least one of every 6 accessible spaces, or fraction of 6, in each parking facility must
be sized to accommodate vans. Accessible spaces must be dispersed among
accessible entrances and be located on the shortest route to the entrances that they
serve. (There are variations to the rules depending on the building type).
● Finishes: Incorporate slip-resistant finishes to meet accessibility requirements.
● Signage: The international symbol of accessibility must be placed in front of the
parking spaces mounted at least five feet above the ground, measured to the
bottom of the sign. Van accessible spaces include the designation "van accessible".
● Van space: Wider parking
space. Van spaces provide
an additional 3 feet of width
to accommodate vehicles
equipped with ramps or
lifts. This extra space can
be added to either the
parking space or to the
access aisle.
AESTHETICS

● Materials and Colors: Parking is as much of a destination as the building.

Drivers are trying to locate the parking garage and the best way to enter it.
Aesthetics play an important role in how the overall building and the
companies/organizations within it are perceived. Care and attention should
be given to the colors and materials used in the space to create a feeling of
safety and ease of access. Durable materials and finishes should be used to
maintain the appearance of the space.
● Graphics: Incorporate visually interesting and informative graphics to relay
messages about directions, activities, and events within the building.
OUTSIDE SURFACE PARKING

● Outside surface parking refers to large paved areas used for extensive vehicle
parking—beyond the incidental parking provided for individuals, official
government parking, and short-term drop off—located adjacent to a building.
As defined for the WBDG, the Level of Service (LOS) of the outside Surface
Parking is LOS A, indicating use by unfamiliar users, high daily turnover, and
high percent of small cars and light trucks. This LOS prescribes 24'-0" (w)
double flow aisles.
ACCESSIBLE
● Parking Spaces and Entrances: Accessible parking spaces must be provided for
each parking lot associated with the building and calculated separately. At least
one of every 6 accessible spaces, or fraction of 6, in each parking facility must
be sized to accommodate vans. Accessible spaces must be dispersed among
accessible entrances and be located on the shortest route to the entrances that
they serve. (There are variations to the rules depending on the building type).
● Finishes: Incorporate slip-resistant finishes to meet accessibility requirements.
● Signage: The international symbol of accessibility must be placed in front of the
parking spaces mounted at least five feet above the ground, measured to the
bottom of the sign. Van accessible spaces include the designation "van
accessible".
● Left: In some cases, achieving the
shortest accessible route will
require locating accessible spaces
closest to an entrance ramp instead
of the entrance doors. Right:
Accessible parking sign that
includes the International Symbol of
Accessibility.
AESTHETICS

● Visual Impact: The surface parking lot should not dominate the building site.
Through a combination of planning, architectural, and landscaping elements,
the visual impact on the surrounding streets and developments can be
minimized or enhanced. For example, surface parking is generally located to
the rear or side of the building and away from the street or street
intersections, while providing direct pedestrian access to the buildings. Note
that textures, patterns, and colors are encouraged in the design of surface
parking in order to provide breaks in large monolithic areas of pavement and
distinguish between pedestrian and vehicular movement within the parking
area.
OUTSIDE/STRUCTURED

● The Outside/Structured Parking space type refers to an above-grade, ramp

access, open-air structure specifically designed to accommodate vehicle
parking. As defined for the WBDG, the Level of Service (LOS) of the
Inside/Basement Parking is LOS B, indicating use by some unfamiliar users,
moderate daily turnover, and medium percentage of small cars and light
trucks; and requiring one-way aisles of 11'-0" straight-ways and 13'-6" turns.
AESTHETICS
● Visual Impact: The parking structure should not dominate the building site,
but should complement it or be its own unique architectural expression.
Through a combination of planning, architectural, and landscaping elements,
the visual impact on the surrounding streets and developments can be
minimized or enhanced. For example, structured parking is generally located
to the rear or side of the building and away from the street or street
intersections, while providing direct pedestrian access to the buildings.
However, parking garages are becoming multi-use buildings with shops and
restaurants along street fronts, and may also serve as a hub for different
modes of transportation. So the aesthetics of the design should support the
garage's ability to support different uses over time.
● Materials and Colors: Parking is as much of a destination as the building.
Drivers are trying to locate the parking garage and the best way to enter it.
Aesthetics play an important role in how the overall building and the
companies/organizations within it are perceived. Care and attention should
be given to the colors and materials used in the space to create a feeling of
safety and ease of access. Durable materials and finishes should be used to
maintain the appearance of the space.
● Graphics: Incorporate visually interesting and informative graphics to relay
messages about directions, activities, and events within the building or
surrounding area that the garage serves
THANK YOU
RAKSHITHA.V
1RQ18AT020
6TH SEM