ABSTRACT
Parking structures can be designed to last for more than 60 years. Although there is a general consensus that the demand for parking will decline in the future, there is not a known timeline as to when and at what pace this decline will occur. Even with this future decline in mind, the assumption can be made that the need for parking structures is not going to dissipate anytime soon. The question of whether a parking structure can be designed today and adapted into a different mix of uses tomorrow takes on a new significance. There are a variety of design elements that can be integrated into parking garage today to allow for the potential to reuse them in the future, including higher floor-to-floor heights, flat floor areas, provisions for expanded electrical, mechanical, and fire protection systems, and additional structural load and architectural elements to create more efficient building reuse opportunities.
