Palm Avenue Parking Garage

Designing a signature building as a portrait of the Sarasota community
This 280,000 square foot project was designed for the City of Sarasota. The challenge for the Palm Avenue Parking Garage and Retail Shops was to design a signature mixed-use building that would become a portrait of the Sarasota community. The resulting design solution needed to welcome civic input and capture the spirit of the local artistic culture.

NOTABLE
"Grand Prize" and "Most Beautiful", International Parking Institute
Harold Bubil’s “Florida Buildings I Love”
(More awards listed below)

Plans

Project Description Cont.

The façade is designed in a curvaceous, free-form sculptural style that reflects the area’s artistic and modern environment. Located one block from Sarasota Bay, the organic contours of the exterior surface resemble the wind-filled sails of a ship. This design gesture perfectly reflects Sarasota’s past and present connection with the waters of the bay. Additionally, the perforated metal “sail” shapes are designed to complement the surrounding architecture along Palm Avenue.

Specifically relating to the programmatic and aesthetic needs of the new parking garage, the “sails” are designed to let natural light and ventilation into all parking levels while screening the vehicles from public view. This is important in creating a welcoming and safe environment for users of the garage while providing a structure that “does not look like a parking garage”.

The ground level of the six-story structure includes a variety of retail spaces. Each storefront is unique, enhancing the pedestrian experience.  Awnings and trees provide shade, while the sails are designed with the street level view in mind.  An outdoor “lobby” serves as the transition from the garage to street level.  A playful, sculptural stair design announces each visitor’s arrival.

Another important design aspect of the garage is its user-friendly layout. Efficient vehicle circulation is achieved by designing slightly angled parking spaces and a wide-open express ramp free of parked cars.  In addition, a one-way traffic flow reduces vehicle conflict and enables easy maneuvering in and out of parking spaces. A simple floor plan, identical on each level, facilitates motorists’ ability to navigate.  The cast-in-place design eliminates shear walls and columns between parking spaces, while an open floor plan with high ceilings creates a bright, airy atmosphere that helps with visitor spatial orientation.  The elevator/stairway area on each floor includes culturally-themed murals (theatre, opera, music, film, and dance), aimed to enhance wayfinding while capturing the spirit Sarasota’s artistic heritage. The parking garage has spaces for 743 cars, slots for 35 motorcycles, and accommodations for 80 bicycles.

The project is certified LEED-CS (Core & Shell) v3 Gold Level.  Green components include an underground retention vault and cistern to store and treat storm water runoff from the site. A portion of the water is reused for the irrigation system.  Interior materials surpass LEED requirements for off-gassings of VOC’s and other toxic chemicals.  Energy consumption is reduced with LED lighting and an energy management system that only provides artificial light when and where it is needed.  A solar carport is located on the roof and plug-ins for electric vehicles are provided on the first floor.

The result is an iconic, user-friendly, environmentally-responsible design that satisfies the functional, strategic, and aesthetic needs of the City, while contributing to the overall success of downtown Sarasota. 

Murals / Vertical Gallery

Within the parking garage, you’ll find murals within both stairwells. Muralists include Brazilian artist Eduardo Kobra (2nd floor, dance theme), French artist MTO (3rd floor, film theme), Californian artist Chor Boogie (4th floor, music theme), Sarasota artists Marco Bell and Monica Spain (5th floor, opera theme), and Sarasota artist Skip Dyrda (6th floor, theatre theme). The project was paid for in part with $25,000 from the public art fund. The 2011 Sarasota Chalk Festival was a major sponsor as well. Other contributors included Jonathan Parks Architect, Mills Gilbane, Service Painting, Sutter Roofing, Gulf Coast Signs, Target Graphics, Bob's Barricades, and Gorilla Kleen.

Site History

In the roaring twenties, Palm Avenue was Sarasota’s most prestigious address. The opening of the luxurious Mira Mar Hotel and Apartments, which hosted the rich and famous in elegant style, marked the beginning of the evolution of Palm Avenue. The area began to boom with ballrooms, restaurants, upscale shops, arts and theaters. Today, Palm Avenue continues to be a blend of cultural establishments, restaurants, shopping, and vibrant downtown living. 

Seeking to promote the redevelopment of the Downtown Core, the City acquired the Palm Avenue Garage property for the specific purpose of providing public parking.  This project was the fifth attempt in twenty years to develop the land. The City Commission ultimately rejected the four other proposals over those twenty years, some of which included parking garages, hotels, condos, and retail.

Team

Sarasota Architects
SOLSTICE Planning and Architecture, Jonathan Parks AIA

Builder
Suffolk Construction

Civil, Landscape & Wayfinding
Kimley Horn & Associates

Structural Engineer
Walter P. Moore

 Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing/ Fire Protection
TLC Engineering for Architecture

Parking Consultants
DKS Associates

Structural Concrete
CECO Concrete Construction 

Metal Fabricator
Mullet’s Aluminum