University of Illinois

Opportunity: The University required significant additional parking at the north gateway to the campus, adjacent to the expanding Engineering school.

Solution:  The multi-story facility provides parking for approximately 1,500 cars on five structured levels, and 20,000 square foot each of street-level retail and office space. While the façade of the building incorporates pre-cast concrete panels with masonry infill familiar to the campus, the design departs from the austere treatment typical of garages to incorporate design elements such as fenestration patterns, textures, and elevation treatments that directly relate to the campus context.

Value:  While the new structure meets the functional requirements of the University, the exterior design relates to the architectural vocabulary of other Campus structures and also serves to mitigate the scale of the parking deck. Ground floor retail enhances the pedestrian scale of the streetscape.