How far we have come from the monolithic, gray boxes of recent memory? Pretty darn far!

Did you know that a garage is on the list of the top 100 buildings in Florida, as proposed by the Florida Chapter of the American Institute of Architects? It’s a people’s choice competition, so I suggest that all parking professionals vote for 1111 Lincoln Road.

1111 is the amazing new garage that doubles as a wedding, yoga, and meeting venue, with a Vanity Fair-featured residence on the roof. IPI featured the garage on the cover of the October 2011 issue of The Parking Professional [PDF], recognizing the new connections between functional parking and thought-provoking architecture. The Wall Street Journal also recognized the building, stating, “The structure—with thin concrete slabs at irregular heights and no exterior walls, leaving vehicles on open display—is more than a place to stash cars. It features luxury retailers at the street level, a glass box housing a clothing store on the fifth floor and a soaring space with stunning views on the seventh floor that can be rented for events—all connected by an internal staircase that spirals up like a DNA helix.”

How far we’ve come! To check out 1111 in the Florida AIA competition, click here: http://www.aiaflatop100.org.