Project Overview
Built in 1972, this three-story total precast concrete parking garage was an early example of precast, prestressed concrete in parking structures—long before the industry had extensive experience with such designs. Spanning 106,300 square feet across two bays with a total length of 327 feet, the structure utilizes 9-foot-wide prestressed single tees with a cast-in-place topping slab. These are supported by slender precast concrete columns spaced at 9 feet on both interior and exterior placements, maximizing openness and efficiency.
Over its 52-year lifespan, the Braddock Street AutoPark garage has undergone two renovations (1991 and 2014) to address minor concrete repairs and corrosion of exposed steel. The stair roofs were also replaced to enhance architectural aesthetics. Despite these updates, the structure has provided exceptional performance and service, remaining a vital downtown parking hub between a historic pedestrian mall and the surrounding commercial and residential buildings.
This project marked a pioneering use of design-build procurement for municipal parking in Virginia, requiring legislative approval at the state level. Situated in a historic district established in 1744, the garage needed to blend seamlessly into its architectural surroundings while navigating a challenging geological site. The location, resting on karst topography with tilted limestone and clay seams, posed potential risks of underground caverns, requiring careful structural considerations. Additionally, its proximity to adjacent structures required compliance with fire separation, fire wall requirements, and open parking limitations, all while incorporating a brick façade for aesthetic continuity.
This garage leveraged the best available technology of its time, using an open bay framing system with long-span single tees developed by T.Y. Lin. Unlike traditional parking structures that rely on spandrel beams, the design prioritized openness, utilizing slender precast columns. Beams were used only at the entrance and crossover bays, with interior back-to-back ell beams strategically placed to form trench drains for improved drainage.
Built in the same year as the first edition of the PCI Design Handbook, under the governing ACI 318-64 code, the garage was constructed before durability and resiliency became standard industry practices. The structure's remarkable longevity is a testament to the expertise of its engineers, precast manufacturers, and contractors, whose early design decisions have stood the test of time. The Braddock Street AutoPark garage remains a preferred parking facility in this downtown area—continuing to serve the community with reliability and efficiency. |