ABSTRACT

Parking garages are a very specialized building type, designed for the storage of vehicles rather than people. Like other building types, parking garages have many design requirements, including structural, exit design, and fire protection provisions. However, parking garages also have unique design requirements not seen in other building types, including sloped floors for drainage and ramps between floors, and are typically exposed to the outdoor environment. Parking garages are often falsely perceived as very simplistic building types, yet they are actually very specialized, with their own unique characteristics and challenges. Parking facilities must accommodate both the movements of vehicles and people. Further, exposure to the environment presents challenges for accommodating building movements and concrete durability. Parking garage designers must understand the environmental, structural, and functional requirements of a successful garage design.