PARK IN THE ART

An innovative metal panel system has enabled designers of the new Albert Street parking structure in East Lansing, Michigan, to meet the city's challenge to build a facility that is artistic as well as functional. The collaborative effort of the city council, the fine arts commission, and other city officials resulted in a "piece of sculpture" with a facade made of cylindrical metal panels that form sloping "tubes" following the angle of the parking ramp. Even more unusual than the shape is the color scheme: The dominant panels are prepainted in seven bright shades of ochre and teal, creating the effect of a perpetual sunrise. The facility includes a six-level parking ramp that accommodates 640 vehicles, a bus waiting area at ground level, about 9,000 sq ft of commercial/retail space, and office space for the city's parking system. Details are included in this article on the design evolution and panel fabrication. The facility was completed on time and 4% below budget.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/1606878
• Corporate Authors:

  Public Works Journal Corporation

  200 South Broad Street
  Ridgewood, NJ  United States  07451
• Publication Date: 1990-8

Media Info

• Features: Photos;
• Pagination: p. 57, 106
• Serial:
  • Public Works
  • Volume: 120
  • Issue Number: 9
  • Publisher: Hanley Wood
  • ISSN: 0033-3840
  • Serial URL: http://www.pwmag.com

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aesthetics; Architecture; Design; Fabrication; Parking garages
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Terminals and Facilities; I20: Design and Planning of Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00497292
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 30 1990 12:00AM