Automated West Hollywood parking garage makes the world a bit cleaner

In addition to gaining 200 much-needed parking spaces, the city of West Hollywood, Calif., is effectively planting hundreds of acres’ worth of trees.

The city recently opened a new fully-automated parking garage for city staff, residents, and local businesses. Designed by LPA Inc., and outfitted with technology from Unitronics Automated Solutions, the garage will use robots to move and store cars throughout the building.

Since the cars are turned off when being parked and retrieved, the city says that the reduction in carbon dioxide emissions is equal to removing 92 cars from the road over a year. That’s equal to planting 67,000 trees.

To make the garage even more sustainable, the shell surrounding the warehouse is made of composite wood panels made from recycled plastic grocery bags. Photovoltaic solar panels and drought-tolerant landscaping has also been installed. The garage will also display public art and serve as a "community open space," according to LPA.

(Click photos to enlarge)

The recently opened Michigan Central Station in Detroit is the centerpiece of a 30-acre technology and cultural hub that will include development of urban transportation solutions. The six-year adaptive reuse project of the 640,000 sf historic station, created by the same architect as New York’s Grand Central Station, is the latest sign of a reinvigorating Detroit.

Transit Facilities | Jul 10, 2024

Historic Fresno train depot to be renovated for California high speed rail station project

A long-shuttered rail station in Fresno, Calif., will be renovated to serve as the city’s high speed rail (HSR) station as part of the California High-Speed Rail Authority system, the nation’s first high speed rail project. California’s HSR system will eventually link more than 800 miles of rail, served by up to 24 stations.

Healthcare Facilities | May 28, 2024

Healthcare design: How to improve the parking experience for patients and families

Parking is likely a patient’s—and their families—first and last touch with a healthcare facility. As such, the arrival and departure parking experience can have a profound impact on their experience with the healthcare facility, writes Beth Bryan, PE, PTOE, PTP, STP2, Principal, Project Manager, Walter P Moore.

Giants 400 | Jan 23, 2024

Top 45 Parking Structure Engineering Firms for 2023

Walker Consultants, Kimley-Horn, Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, KPFF Consulting Engineers, and Walter P Moore head BD+C's ranking of the nation's largest parking structure engineering and engineering/architecture (EA) firms for 2023, as reported in the 2023 Giants 400 Report.

Giants 400 | Jan 23, 2024

Top 55 Parking Structure Construction Firms for 2023

PCL Construction Enterprises, Swinerton, Bomel Construction, McCarthy Holdings, and Alberici-Flintco top BD+C's ranking of the nation's largest parking structure general contractors and construction management (CM) firms for 2023, as reported in the 2023 Giants 400 Report.

Giants 400 | Jan 23, 2024

Top 60 Parking Structure Architecture Firms for 2023

Choate Parking Consultants, Page Southerland Page, Gensler, AO, and Elkus Manfredi Architects top BD+C's ranking of the nation's largest parking structure architecture and architecture engineering (AE) firms for 2023, as reported in the 2023 Giants 400 Report.

Pre-applied blindside waterproofing installed prior to pouring of concrete wall. Photo courtesy Walter P Moore

Waterproofing deep foundations for new construction

This continuing education course, by Walter P Moore's Amos Chan, P.E., BECxP, CxA+BE, covers design considerations for below-grade waterproofing for new construction, the types of below-grade systems available, and specific concerns associated with waterproofing deep foundations.