GlobeSt.com: What are the hot Northern California markets for parking construction and what is the current and future state of development?

Riddle: The parking sector is a reflection of larger market and economic forces. There is a very high demand for structured parking in the South Bay/San Jose area due to the fact that land availability and cost is at a premium, and the region is experiencing rapid development. As this happens, more parking is required. McCarthy currently has approximately 17,000 parking spaces under construction at various projects in Northern California. There are a variety of building developments that are contributing to the need for additional parking structures including office development and transportation expansion associated with the BART extension, as well as extensive healthcare facility expansions.

Most parking structure projects are located around dense and growing commercial and public areas. We are also seeing public and private dollars being allocated towards transit oriented developments in dense urban locations. Looking towards 2016 and beyond, we expect to see continued need for more parking structures as the economy continues to expand. Real estate owners should know that commodity prices such as cement and steel have remained stable on the international market, so parking projects are being built today at a relative savings.

GlobeSt.com: How should parking structures be designed to exclusively benefit the commercial buildings for which they serve?

Riddle: Parking structures are not created equal in that they should be custom developed for the facilities they support. They can enable easy access for users and may serve as a lucrative revenue source. If not designed and built well, they can encumber access and generate major long-term maintenance costs.

GlobeSt.com: Can you give us a few examples of the design strategies for different industry sectors?

Riddle: A structure that supports an office building should load and unload passenger vehicles quickly during peak work day arrival and departure times. Usually, the ramping system is designed to allow employees to travel vertically from floor to floor quickly.

Retail facility parking structures should be designed to help users find a parking spot quickly, so that they can enter the facility (and spend money). This is accomplished through design elements such as a “high bay” on the first floor, allowing users to park and walk directly into the retailers or mall. Electronic parking assistance is also common for retail projects so customers can easily identify open spaces by locating a red or green light with a sensor over each parking space.

Revenue-generating parking structures, like retail and municipal, must focus on traffic flow, efficient lane use, convenient payment systems, and ensuring that the gates open and close quickly enough to keep vehicles moving.