PROJECT OVERVIEW

The World Peace Bell Parking Garage is a four-level parking structure located in downtown Newport, developed to support the city’s continued growth and redevelopment. Built on the former site of the historic World Peace Bell, the garage provides important infrastructure for a new hotel development as well as the increasing number of visitors and businesses coming to the area. The project is part of the ongoing revitalization of Newport and neighboring Covington within the greater Cincinnati region.

As Newport’s downtown continues to grow as a destination for dining, entertainment, and tourism, the new garage provides 409 parking spaces to improve accessibility for visitors, residents, and nearby businesses. Designed to fit within the surrounding urban environment, the structure incorporates architectural elements that help it blend into the downtown streetscape while still creating visual interest. The project not only improves access to the area but also supports the continued growth and development of Newport’s city center.

PRECAST SOLUTION

Precast concrete was selected for the World Peace Bell Parking Garage because it provided a durable and efficient system well suited for a multi-level parking structure while still allowing for strong architectural detail. Using precast components helped speed up construction, maintain consistent quality, and reduce on-site labor—an important advantage for a project located in the busy downtown area of Newport.

Beyond its structural benefits, precast also allowed the design team to incorporate architectural features that give the garage a more distinctive appearance. The exterior façade includes architectural precast panels made with two different concrete mixes: a dark charcoal mix with an acid-etched finish and a light gray architectural mix with a similar acid-etched finish. The combination creates contrast and visual depth across the building. Thin brick, supplied by Metro Brick, was cast into select precast panels to form exterior arch details, adding texture and helping the structure blend with the surrounding urban architecture.

 

Project Team

Architect

North Shore Design, 430 Reading Road, 4th Floor, Cincinnati, OH 45202

Engineer

Schaefer, 537 East Pete Rose Way, Suite 400, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 

Contractor

North Shore Construction, 430 Reading Road, 4th Floor, Cincinnati, OH 45202 

Owner

North Shore Development, City of Newport 

Precaster & Precast Specialty Engineer

Coreslab Structures Indianapolis, 1030 S. Kitley Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46203 

PCI Certified Erector

Ben Hur Construction

Key Project Attributes

  • Increased Parking Capacity: The four-level, 123,200-square-foot structure provides 409 parking spaces, helping support new development and making it easier for visitors, residents, and nearby businesses to access downtown Newport.
  • Architectural Versatility: The exterior includes architectural precast panels with two different concrete mixes and acid-etched finishes, along with thin brick cast directly into the panels, supplied by Metro Brick. These elements add texture and contrast while still maintaining the durability of precast concrete.
  • Durability and Low Maintenance: Precast concrete provides a long-lasting structural system that performs well in parking environments exposed to traffic, weather, and deicing salts. The use of precast components helps ensure consistent quality and reduces long-term maintenance for the structure.
  • Supporting Downtown Growth: The 409-space parking garage helps support continued redevelopment in downtown Newport by improving access for visitors, residents, and nearby businesses. The added parking capacity supports new development in the area and helps accommodate the growing number of people visiting Newport’s downtown district.

Project/Precast Scope

  • The parking garage is a 123,200 SF, 4-level field-topped parking garage providing (409) parking spaces.
  • The exterior of the garage is provided with architectural precast panels with (2) different concrete mixes (Mix #12 a dark charcoal mix with acid etched finish and Mix #48 a light gray architectural mix with acid etched finish).
  • Thin brick cast into the exterior arch. precast panels, the thin brick is provided by Metro brick.