Parking in Fashion:
One of the nation’s first LEED certified parking garages leads the way
Marcy Marro,
Posted
03/01/2010
The
ultramodern Santa Monica Civic Center parking garage in Santa
Monica, Calif., is one of the first parking structures in the
United States to be LEED certified. Completed in January 2008, the
300,000-square-foot (27,870-m2) parking structure features 900
spaces on eight levels. Designed by Santa Monica-based Moore Ruble
Yudell Architects and Planners to visually inspire, the parking
garage also responds to its gateway position within the city's
Civic Center master plan.
"The parking structure establishes a strong presence within a
cluster of civic buildings that includes the historic city hall,
courthouse and public safety building," said James Mary O'Connor,
principal at Moore Ruble Yudell. The structure offers a visually
memorable arrival point and gateway to the Civic Center, in
addition to a street-level retail and café, a garden, spectacular
views of the Pacific Ocean and the city, along with a sense of
personal safety.
Additionally, the design team was challenged to create a building
that exemplified the city's commitment to sustainable design, while
strengthening the urban fabric and providing public amenities
according to O'Connor.
Architectural Mesh
Featuring pre-cast white, ribbed concrete panel that are set in a
rhythmic, variegated pattern on all façades, the structure also
utilizes a woven metal fabric system from Cambridge, Md.-based
Cambridge Architectural that acts as a uniquely stylish, durable
and recyclable space-dividing façade which conceals the stairs in
the garage. Matching the building itself, the mesh panels offer
cutting-edge appearance and performance as part of the new
aesthetic landmark in the city.
"We used a lot of faceted, colored glass panels in the parking
structure, and Cambridge's stainless-steel mesh complements these
very well to create a unique overall design," O'Connor said. "Mesh
is a striking material from any distance, and we find that the
closer you get to it, the more refined it looks."
"The mesh always looks good, and has required minimal maintenance,"
O'Connor continued. "It is unaffected by the tough environment
around it, and has kept its original straight, continuous
architectural plane."
"Cambridge was on
the job site with us, noonly helping with the actual installation
but also determining the very best way to make the mesh work on the
structure," said Steve Siciliani, project executive for Tustin,
Calif.-based Woodbridge Glass, the general contractor and installer
on the project.
Cambridge's Parkade system was fabricated with mesh in its Balance
pattern and installed with its J-hook tension attachment hardware.
The architectural mesh's recyclable nature, along with its unique
aesthetic and durability, made it the perfect material for
welcoming guests to the Civic Center.
"We used Cambridge's mesh at the entrance of the structure in order
to create and reinforce a gateway identity to the Civic Center,"
O'Connor said. "It defines architectural space, but doesn't block
light-instead, it captures light and acts as a translucent veil for
the building."
Sustainable
Features
The LEED certified parking structure features a variety of
sustainable features, many within the areas of stormwater
management, landscaping, energy performance and recycled
material.
The project exceeds the local BMP guidelines inthe removal of
solids and contaminants and features a CDS Storm Water Pollution
Control Unit that is designed to remove 80 percent of the first
flush solids before entering the city's water system. The site also
includes limited landscape and paved areas and drought tolerant
plant species. Reclaimed water meets 100 percent of plant water
demand, which aids in the smart irrigation system that helps
maximize efficiency through drip irrigation, flow control bubblers,
and rain and soil sensors.
The high-efficiency glazing system has a lower solar heat gain
coefficient that is required by Title24, and photovoltaic panels
provide 43 percent of the structure's total regulated energy.
Improved garage light efficiency and T8 fluorescent light fixtures
were used, in addition to an HVAC system with zero CFC based
refrigerants.
Structural and miscellaneous steel, aluminum framing, glazing, the
way finding sculptures and concrete aggregate all feature a
percentage of recycled material. Whenever possible, materials were
manufactured within 500 miles (800 km) of the project site,
including steel, rebar, concrete aggregate, site concrete, metal
door frames, glass and drywall. In addition, 78 percent of the
construction waste was diverted from landfill sites to city
recycling centers.
Santa
Monica Civic Center Parking Garage, Santa Monica,
Calif.
Architect: DWL Architects + Planners Inc., Phoenix,
and Douglas Sydnor Architect and Associates, Scottsdale,
Ariz.
Executive architect: International Parking Design, Los
Angeles
Architect: Moore Ruble Yudell Architects and Planners, Santa
Monica
General contractor/installer: Woodbridge Glass, Tustin,
Calif.
Structural consultant: Frame Design Group, Los Angeles
Curtainwall engineer: Werner Systems, Tustin
U-Glass panels distributor: Specialty Glazing Systems, La Quinta,
Calif.
Colors on glass panels: Grosvenor Solutions in Glass, Kingsgrove,
New South Wales, Australia
High-efficiency glass: PPG, Pittsburgh, www.ppg.com
Metal mesh: Cambridge Architectural, Cambridge, Md.,
www.cambridgearchitectural.com
Photovoltaic panels: RWE Schott Solar Inc., Albuquerque, N.M.,
www.us.schott.com
U-Glass panels: Bendheim Wall Systems, Passaic, N.J.,
www.bendheimwall.com