When the National Lab of the Rockies (NLR), formerly National Renewable Energy Laboratory, was planning facility enhancements at its Table Mountain Campus in Golden, Colorado, part of the project involved a new parking structure. We also helped NLR to develop their new Research Support Facility and Cafe. This project involved architectural, master planning, and landscaping services to design a net zero energy parking structure that would support nearly 900 employees.
Designed for maximum sustainability, the new parking structure is an open, five-level, concrete frame with a tensioned, recyclable aluminum panel wrapping and a steel roof canopy for the mounting of a photovoltaic array. All sides of the garage are open to the elements, allowing natural ventilation that eliminates the need for a mechanical system.
At almost 580,000-square-feet, the aluminum panels augment the openness for control of daylight, wind, and headlight glare. The two halves of the structure are separated by a dedicated pedestrian circulation area with a monumental stair connecting all levels, encouraging pedestrian safety and activity while reducing the energy used by the elevators.
Preferred parking spaces with charging stations for electric/hybrid vehicles are made available for 2% of the total parking capacity. But, our designs provide the future potential for 20% of the parking spaces to accommodate electric vehicle charging stations.
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