Restoration: Structured Parking
Restoration: Structured Parking Restoration: Structured Parking Mint Street Parking Garage AWARDED TO: Pivot Parking CATEGORY: Restoration: Structured Parking Facility LOCATION: Charlotte, NC OWNER: ANiMAL Group PRIME CONSULTANTS: Pivot Parking (Operator); Walker Consultants (Engineering, Parking); Stone Restoration of America (General Contractor); Western Specialty Contractors (Building Envelope Contractor); Flash Parking and Parking Guidance Systems (Hardware Suppliers) TOTAL COST: $5,000,000 APEX AWARD Restoration: Structured Parking L ocated at 410 S. Mint Street in the heart of Charlotte between Truist Field and Bank of America Stadium, the six-level, 2,200-space Mint Street Parking Garage has long supported Charlotte FC soccer matches, Knights baseball games, concerts, and other events. Originally constructed in 1996, the facility underwent a comprehensive modernization completed in 2025, transforming it into a next-generation mobility hub for the city’s evolving urban core. What was once static infrastructure now operates as an intelligent, data-driven ecosystem. Every upgrade was guided by clarity, durability, and design integrity, redefining the urban parking experience for users. Advanced technologies, including AI-powered license plate recognition, automated vehicle identification, and touchless payment, enable seamless movement during peak periods. Intelligent lane management and real-time guidance systems optimize circulation, reduce congestion, and enhance safety and reliability at scale. The upgraded platform also supports an adjacent hotel, integrating guest, event, and monthly parking operations to improve efficiency across user groups. Sustainability is embedded throughout. The project includes 28 EV charging stations, motion-activated LED lighting, and bay-level occupancy sensors that reduce circling, idling, and emissions while supporting Charlotte’s clean-energy goals. Improvements to pedestrian pathways, curb transitions, and stall layouts enhanced ADA compliance and intuitive accessibility. The project also redefined the facility’s relationship with its surroundings, with contextual placemaking complementing the operational upgrade. A renewed courtyard now hosts food trucks, pop-ups, and community events, strengthening connections to the urban fabric. Delivering the modernization required precise project management to upgrade a high-volume, fully operational facility without disruption. Each phase was carefully sequenced to maintain continuous service for daily commuters, event parkers, and hotel guests. Temporary pop-up lanes equipped with handheld payment devices maintained traffic flow and preserved access and revenue throughout construction. This approach allowed the facility to operate at near-full capacity during complex system replacements, minimizing downtime and customer impact. Noise mitigation, dust control, and clearly defined pedestrian routes ensured the garage remained safe, clean, and navigable. The team implemented a lane-by-lane, nighttime cutover strategy, executing phased upgrades to access equipment, guidance systems, and conduit infrastructure under controlled conditions. Challenges associated with aging conduit, deteriorated slabs, and legacy wiring were addressed through targeted engineering and adaptive reuse. Where replacement was necessary, modular equipment allowed for rapid “hot swaps” without lane closures. Each phase concluded with full inspection and real-time system validation before proceeding. Rigorous quality control included pre-installation mockups, iterative subsystem testing, and post-launch audits to verify performance, accuracy, and durability. Innovation isn’t just what you install; it’s how you build, adapt, and keep a city moving even as you strive to reinvent it. Mint Street Garage is more than a renovation; it’s a model for how design, technology, and operations can converge to move people faster, safer, and smarter while delivering lasting civic value. “Mint Street redefines what a modern parking garage can be, integrating advanced technology, live-construction phasing, and placemaking to deliver a high-performing facility without disrupting operations. This project sets a new standard for innovation in urban parking management.” “Love the garage navigation and real time data. Parking should not be difficult. With this technology, reality met expectations and elevated the user experience to a whole new level.” Restoration: Structured Parking C7 and C10 Parking Structure Rehabilitation AWARDED TO: Walker Consultants CATEGORY: Restoration: Structured Parking LOCATION: Urbana, IL OWNER: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign PRIME CONSULTANTS: Walker Consultants (Architecture, Structural Engineering, Parking); JUNEAU Associates, Inc. (Civil Engineering); Primera Engineers (MEP Engineering); Atis (Elevator Consultant); Grunloh Construction (General Contractor) TOTAL COST: $20,000,000 Honorable Mention Restoration: Structured Parking T he partial collapse of a masonry veneer wall, combined with the discovery of widespread deterioration in slab post-tensioning tendons, prompted this extensive restoration of two central campus parking structures: C7 (Sixth and John Streets) and C10 (Fifth and Daniel Streets). Executed in two phases between early 2021 and late 2024, the ambitious program addressed safety, accessibility, and modern functionality through a comprehensive series of structural and façade improvements. Long-term durability was secured through repairs to floors, walls, ceilings, beams, and stairways, and was further supported by new waterproofing systems, window glazing, and door frame sealants. To restore structural integrity, the original post-tensioning system was abandoned and replaced with an innovative steel “exoskeleton” installed beneath the existing slabs. Galvanized for durability and fireproofed for safety, the system was anchored to existing single T-beams using clip angles and adhesive anchors. This predictable, repetitive installation enabled efficient phasing, minimizing disruption and accelerating construction. The approach also avoided extensive demolition, preserved most of the original structure, and extended the service life by more than 20 years at a fraction of the cost of replacement. Improvements extended to installation of new EV charging stations, accessible parking stalls, LED lighting, MEP and emergency backup systems, and enhanced telecom and fiber connectivity. Vertical transportation was augmented with a modernized elevator in C7 and a new six-story elevator tower in C10. Safety enhancements included new surveillance cameras, self-harm-prevention fencing at upper levels, and improved circulation. By prioritizing rehabilitation over replacement, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign delivered a safer, more sustainable solution through inventive, cost-effective methods that minimized disruption to campus operations. “This project transformed an aging parking structure into a safer, more durable, and future-ready facility through thoughtful rehabilitation and engineering excellence.”