Saturday, 26 October 2013

Choosing A Parking Garage Design

By Rachael Gutierrez


The modern day parking garage design has evolved greatly from what was used a couple of decades ago. New ways of construction and organization have been brought about due to a number of factors. Perhaps the most important of these driving factors is limitation in construction space. Traditionally parking has often been done in open space in the middle of a commercial center or private property.

It has become increasingly necessary to create designs that utilize small space but are still fully functional. The result of this is an increased rate of innovation in this industry as each designer tries to outdo the other in creating the most appealing piece of work for their client. The clients on their part are looking for products that will take the least amount of cost on maintenance but result in the highest possible profits.

The other driving factor that has led to the development of new designs is the change in the choice of materials used. The cost of construction materials for the garages has continued to rise by the day. This has been a major challenge for most designers with a good number of them opting for cheaper ones. Striking a balance between cost and functionality has not been an easy task.

The on-going campaign against global warming and climate change continues to shape the industry as well. Authorities that regulate car park construction in many places have created laws that prohibit the use of materials thought to degrade the environment. This, amongst other regulations, has limited the available options for the designer. Lots of planning and research are now required before the creation of these facilities.

Asphalt and concrete have remained popular building materials over the years. The reason as to why they are used to date is because they are not only effective but environmental friendly as well. Concrete is said to be much better for drainage as compared to asphalt and is for this reason preferred in poorly-drained areas.It is also important to ensure that the material chosen blends well with the rest of the building in terms of color apart from being environmental friendly.

One of the most popularly adopted systems is one in which vehicles are arranged at right angles to each other. This is a move that has greatly helped utilize space as well as ensure smooth movement of motorists through the facilities. The main advantage that this system has over the traditional ones is the fact that it comprises a two-way drive way that makes the entry and exit way easy.

Designers need to be alive to the fact there are many more cyclists using the facilities than was the case in the past. For this reason, it is important that they put them into account even as they create their desired structures. There should be mechanisms that will allow easy movement of motorist, pedestrians and cyclists.

Advancements in technology have been well received in this sector. The advent of robotic parking systems in many cities all over the world has been a great stride towards dealing with lack of parking space. These systems allow the easy storage and retrieval of vehicles in the facilities. They are especially important in a vertical parking garage design.




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