7th Street Parking Deck

The construction of many new commercial buildings in downtown Holland signals a very active market. The desire to maximize building development and green space opportunity is challenged by the ability to provide adequate parking. Rather than requiring each individual building to provide its own parking, the opportunity to provide shared public parking is emphasized in the Downtown Parking Plan as the most efficient and effective way to benefit the entire downtown.

The project site location was chosen for multiple reasons. First the site was deemed a Brownfield Site which would allow the city to reuse and rehabilitate the previously developed site and reduce the pressure for new development on the surrounding parcels. Also, the site’s direct adjacency to the cities commercial district benefits users giving them a close place to park.

The design of the building was derived from a palette of shapes, colors and materials that are inherent within the city of Holland. The building’s character is defined in these typologies. The façade module is based on precast concrete construction technologies as well as the desire to segment the seven hundred foot long façade into a relatable scale of the city’s downtown storefronts. The long narrow site offered a number of challenges in designing a multi-level parking deck. The vehicle and pedestrian entrances and exits were designed at the ends of the building to allow for efficient parking on each level. Many sustainable elements were incorporated into the building’s design to help reduce its’ impact on the environment. The building uses LED lighting and has an underground rainwater collection system to store water on site for later reuse in landscape irrigation. Both of these technologies help reduce demands on the cities infrastructure and lower operating costs. These concepts in sustainability are in alignment with the City of Holland’s outlook towards the future betterment of their community.

Project Features:

• Brownfield Site: Tax Incentive, Rehabilitates Damaged Sites, and Reduces Pressure on Undeveloped land
• LED Lighting
• Underground Rainwater Collection System – Storing Rain Water on Site (under the structure) and Using it to Water on Site Landscaping
• Precast Structure
• 256 Spaces
• Snow Melt System Incorporated into Entrance/Exit Ramps and Stairs
• Alternative Transportation – Bicycle Storage on Lower Level of Parking Deck
• Native Plantings Used on Site
• Community Connectivity – Public Transportation, and Rail Lines within a Half Mile of Site Location
• Regional Manufactured Materials – Concrete, Brick, Steel within 500 Mile Radius of Project
• Building Location Allows for Surrounding Developments to have a Higher Ratio of Open Space to Building Footprint to Maximize Green Space