The Cost and Design Process of Building Concrete Park Garage Structures

Building a parking garage is no small decision. There are many variables that influence the planning and cost of the final product. Inherently,parking garages structures are extremely massive in size and, in order for one to be built, it typically requires extensive labor and building materials. Similar to most large-scale construction projects, accurately budgeting costs of a parking garage can be difficult due to the underlying dynamics. To combat this, construction firms that offer design/build capabilities under one roof are using new innovative building and designing procedures to effectively estimate more precisely. By utilizing the design/build method for parking garages, these firms are able to review the overall project details including: size and square footage, foundation requirements,structural frame type and geometric limitations, appearance, location and code requirements, with their internal engineering and design team. This team and evaluation helps the owner better judge project costs.

In 2005,the average cost per parking space was approximately $15,000/space, but due to rising costs and inflation the average today would be considerably higher. Construction firms are now utilizing new methods regarding the design and planning process. There are two ways to go about achieving this. The first way puts all the responsibility on the owner. The owner must retrieve complete architectural plans for the parking garage and work with an engineering firm of their choice. If both the construction firm and the owner agree on the final price, the work begins. However, doing it this way requires the owner pay for any missing building materials that are absent from the original blueprints, or any unexpected issues that may arise.To alleviate some of the liability and burden on the owner, construction firms that offer the design/build method allows them to be totally accountable to the owner, and, hence, project runs smother. Regardless of which method the owner chooses, it’s important to select a construction firm that has experience and expertise with parking garages and parking structures and/or familiarity with local codes and customs. When working together with the engineering and the owner, they are able to define the desired aesthetic features and functional requirements for the parking garage. They, in turn layout a plan based on the cost of materials and their work force to generate a monetary bid for the job.

A common question in the parking garage construction industry is how long does the building process take. Unfortunately there is no set answer. It can be challenging to determine and depends largely on the size and scope of the project. Properly coordinating the construction process with the design/build method can reduce the costs associated with the project, and save time in building the parking garage.The garage owner should be informed via the contract as to what the general time line is regarding the completion of work.