Overview
Our Diagnostics and Parking groups were honored at last week’s International Parking Institute’s (IPI) Conference & Expo, where they were awarded the IPI 2015 Award of Excellence Best Parking Facility Rehabilitation / Restoration for the Helix-on-Main Garage in Lexington, Kentucky.
“The seven winners of the International Parking Institute 2015 Awards of Excellence may vary significantly in use and appearance, but they collectively symbolize a new way of thinking about parking,” says Shawn Conrad, CAE, executive director of IPI, the world’s largest parking association.
Winners were selected by an independent panel of judges representing architectural firms, parking corporations, and city, airport, and university officials. The full release can be viewed here.
About Helix-on-Main
The question of whether to demolish or repair the badly deteriorating, 40-year-old Helix Parking Structure, located between two government buildings in Lexington, Kentucky, ultimately led to a $4 million renovation project that incorporated significant structural and waterproofing repairs, lighting upgrades, signage enhancement, exterior revitalization, and numerous other sustainability features. Drivers easily navigate to spaces via a PARCS (Parking Access Revenue Control System) that offers real-time space-availability information on LED counters outside garage entrances. What used to be a single-exit “choke point” was resolved by creating three cashier-free lanes, helping to greatly relieve congestion during peak times.
New signage and graphics significantly enhance the user experience. Outside, waterproofing coatings, a stainless-steel panel system, and programmable LED lights transformed the historic garage into a dynamic element of the downtown fabric. Energy-efficient fluorescent lighting with daylight and motion sensors improve visibility and yield a 50 percent energy savings. ADA spaces were incorporated into a new layout, which is safer and more user-friendly. Operational upgrades have included 24/7 operations, resulting in a revenue increase and more reliable customer service.
For more project information, go to the Helix-on-Main project page.
Additional Project Team
Lexington Parking Authority
Pohl Rosa Pohl Architecture + Design, Facade Design Architect
RAM Construction Services, Restoration General Contractor
Scheidt & Bachmann USA, Parking Vendor
Vincent Lighting Systems, Lighting Design Consultant
Randy Walker Electric, Contractor
National Lighting Services, Contractor
ProCLAD, Contractor
Image360, Environmental Graphics & Architectural Signage
