Why do I need a parking consultant?
Parking facilities are very unique structures, with specific design requirements related to functionality, efficiency, economics, and durability. Parking consultants, like consultants for other building types, help steer the design of a parking or mixed-use facility in the right direction from the very outset, helping to ensure a successful parking oriented project. Specifically, a parking consultant understands the importance of recognizing key planning and design issues such as:
- Maximizing parking space count
- Access and internal functional layout
- Economy, including both initial and operating costs
- Patron safety and security
- Pedestrian circulation and connectivity
- Sustainable design strategies
- Construction and accessible code compliance
- Durability design
- Site constraints
- Interface with adjacent buildings
Garage and parking design should begin at the very start of any development, where the consultant either leads or supports the team in creating functional designs that meet the program with respect to an acceptable level of service, efficient, yet comfortable and intuitive design and most importantly, affordable design. An experienced parking consultant is also able to marry the functional design and the structural design so that the right balance is achieved for user comfort and, operational success and structural economy, whether the garage is designed using precast or cast-in-place construction.
*Federal, State, and Local codes govern most of these requirements and should be thoroughly investigated. Data presented herein should be considered guidelines only. For more specific information and assistance with implementation of these guidelines, please contact THA Consulting, Inc. via email at info@tha-consulting.com