BBS Architects Engineers

EMC Insurance Companies

EMC & City of Des Moines – Parking Garage
EMC & City of Des Moines – Parking Garage

Consultants:

  • Walker Parking Consultants/Engineers 
  • Structural Parking: Snyder and Associates Civil Engineers

Construction Completed: 2006
Project Data:

  • Capacity 1769 structured spaces
  • Area 525,809 SF

Construction Cost: $25,339,975

The parking facility is a joint venture between EMC Company and the City of Des Moines. The facility consists of two garages of eight levels each. The garages share common elevators and stairs and are designed to operate independently to allow for either garage to be removed in the future.

The post-tensioned concrete structure is clad with pre-cast concrete panels including screen walls to conceal the cars. The concrete beams and colored pre-cast panels along the east and west sides of the garages work to conceal the sloped ramps and to create a horizontal grid to relate to the surrounding buildings. The space between the two garages creates a courtyard, which provides natural light and ventilation and also contains landscaping at the ground level. At street level, planters clad with recycled granite provide separation between cars and pedestrians.

The stairways are completely open at the courtyard side or glass enclosed from the exterior to provide high visibility from the exterior and interior for enhanced occupant safety. The elevators also have glass backs for visual safety and natural light. The project includes connection to the existing skywalk.

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