In Southern California, a prominent developer faced significant challenges in constructing a new medical center. The project required ample parking to accommodate patients, staff, and visitors, but the site’s unique topography—a canyon location—presented substantial hurdles. Conventional parking garages were proving to be both cost-prohibitive and space-inefficient due to high excavation costs and design limitations.

Photo courtesy of Westfalia Technologies, Inc

Challenges

1. High Excavation Costs: The canyon environment made excavation exceptionally expensive. Traditional parking garages require extensive digging and foundational work, which significantly escalated the overall budget.
2. Space Limitations: The design of conventional parking garages often necessitates ramps for vehicle access, consuming valuable square footage. This meant that the developer could not meet the required number of parking spaces, limiting the overall capacity of the facility and impacting its usability.
3. Sustainability Goals: With a growing emphasis on sustainability, the developer also wanted to ensure that the parking solution would support electric vehicles (EVs), aligning with modern environmental standards and community expectations.

Solution

An APS vendor proposed a fully automated parking system (APS) as an innovative solution to the developer's challenges. This advanced technology not only addressed their immediate issues but also aligned with their long-term goals.

1. Cost-Efficiency: By utilizing an automated parking system, they significantly reduced the need for extensive excavation. The APS requires minimal excavation compared to conventional garages, effectively lowering the overall construction costs. This allowed the developer to allocate resources more effectively and maintain the project’s budget.
2. Increased Capacity: The automated system optimized space utilization by eliminating the need for ramps. As a result, they were able to double the number of parking spaces available on-site. This increase meant that the medical center could comfortably accommodate the anticipated traffic without compromising on space or accessibility.
3. EV Charging Accessibility: Understanding the growing demand for electric vehicle infrastructure, an automated parking solution is designed to be 100% EV charging accessible, providing a sustainable and forward-thinking solution that meets current and future needs.

Results

The implementation of the fully automated parking system will transform the initial challenges into opportunities. The developer will achieve:

• Significant Cost Savings: By reducing excavation requirements, the developer saved a substantial amount of money, allowing for reinvestment into other areas of the project.
• Doubled Parking Capacity: The innovative design led to an increase in available parking spaces, enhancing the functionality of the medical center and improving the overall user experience.
• Sustainable Infrastructure: With 100% EV charging accessibility, the project aligned with environmental goals, contributing to a greener future and appealing to eco-conscious stakeholders.

Transfer Area Layout

Typical Parking Level

Conclusion

This case study illustrates how innovative parking solutions can address complex challenges in urban development. The developer not only navigated the obstacles posed by the canyon site but also enhanced the value of their medical center project. The plan to successfully integrate a fully automated parking system serves as a model for future developments facing similar constraints, showcasing the potential for technology to drive efficiency, sustainability, and improved design in the construction industry.