In a design/build contract with Kelly Construction Group, UMKC hired IAA to design a new parking facility. The program called for a five-story garage accommodating 1,330 vehicles. It was to be serviced by an elevator and three stair towers. The primary design challenge was addressing the demands of neighboring residents, who expressed concern about the aesthetic impact of a parking structure in a high-visibility area of their community.
The design is comprised of post-tensioned, cast-in-place concrete, and clad with brick, cast stone, and precast architectural panels. Gothic architectural elements compliment adjacent campus buildings. Much to the pleasure of neighboring communities, the structure’s warm, buff-colored masonry and red tile roofs make it difficult to distinguish from other University buildings as a parking garage. Archways, small structural bay proportions, greenery, shade trees, and deep setbacks help to reduce the scale of the façade, and create a pedestrian-friendly area. Our team also incorporated an elevated sky walk, allowing safe passage between garage and the main campus.
