Santa Monica Mea Culpa
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.27.07
Back in March I was dismissive of the Santa Monica Civic Center Parking Garage, a "six-story, 882-space structure at the Civic Center features photovoltaic roof panels, a storm drain water treatment system, recycled construction materials and energy efficient mechanical systems." Not being fond of above grade parking structures in prime locations, I suggested that it was a ludicrous project: " And they are going for LEED certification, which should be a challenge for an above grade parking garage, even if it was made from site-grown bamboo and ventilated by flapping butterfly wings."
I was seriously wrong, it is a stunner. It really is a silk purse out of a sow's ear of a program.
ArchNewsNow says "The humble parking garage is humble no more with a bold design that makes it a sparkling destination point in itself - oh, it's LEED green, too."
"A new civic parking garage, designed by Moore Ruble Yudell Architects & Planners (MRY), is now an integral part of the quadrant of civic buildings that visually unites the tableau of diverse buildings. Not least among the challenges was to "create architecture out of a utilitarian, common building type, one that is not generally associated with high design standards," says MRY Principal-in-Charge James Mary O�Connor, AIA. "The structure offers a visually memorable arrival point and gateway to the Civic Center." The project also had to exemplify the city's commitment to sustainable design; this will be one of the first parking structures in the U.S. to achieve LEED Certification."
An Urban Solution
"The varied amenities incorporated into the parking structure allow the designed mass to function beyond its service capacity. The four sides of the building acknowledge the individual urban contexts, thus serving as a fully designed urban presence. Small retail spaces at the pedestrian level expand the building's civic edge, creating a destination as well as a gateway. A lively cafe on the main plaza terrace will animate the pedestrian flow into and out of the heart of the Civic Center. The Zen garden, a commissioned artwork by Mark Lere, highlights both the inside and the outside of the building, making it more hospitable to the community than an ordinary public garage."
A Sustainable Structure
"The building runs efficiently and sustainably. Photovoltaic panels on the roof and laminated to three facades provide much of the building's energy needs. The array of angled photovoltaic cells accentuates the skyline and creates a memorable profile for the Civic Center.
All facades allow natural ventilation and illumination to enter all parking floors. The ceilings are painted white to maximize the quality of light and airiness. Multicolored glass panels allow daylight into the structure, decreasing the amount of artificial light that is generally needed for this type of building, and adding a glow to the interior by day and a luminous exterior by night. The structure becomes a sensor and vessel of light, colors, and patterns, ranging from transparent to translucent.
Other sustainable features include: a storm drain water treatment system; recycled construction materials and waste; low volatile organic compound paints and coatings; low-e glazing for heating and cooling efficiency; and energy efficient mechanical systems."
So Mea Culpa, I was wrong. If one is going to build an above grade parking garage with ocean views, it might as well be green and gorgeous. ::ArchNewsNow
All pictures by John Edward Linden from Archnewsnow.
"If one is going to build an above-grade parking garage with ocean views . . ." you say. That's a huge IF. No, you were not wrong in your critique. Such a structure, made greener, is like offering low-alcohol beer, instead of water or coffee, to an alcoholic. Arguably it's better, but is it an argument worth having? Smog makes nice sunsets in LA, but surely it's time to get past silver linings and start reducing clouds. If so, the only urban alternative to death-by-auto (asphyxiation) is making parking harder and more costly.
Wouldn't making it harder to find a parking spot increase unnecessary driving around to look for a spot?
Yes, it would be better to drive less or drive more fuel-effiecient cars, but harping on the "evils" of a parking garage, which could arguably lessen fuel consumption in a localized area, is putting the cart before the horse.
A lack of parking in an area could also hurt local businesses thus leading to a loss of jobs in the area, and forcing local residents to make longer commutes to shop, eat, or work.
Brendan - this parking garage is for Santa Monica City Hall and the police station. In an ideal world everyone would ride their bikes or take the bus to do business with the City of Santa Monica, but in reality the residents, contractors etc. who need to go there are usually on their way somewhere else and public transportation is impractical for certain professions.
The City is charging an exorbitant amount to park there, so part of your suggestion (making parking costly) is already in effect.
I have to disagree with Brendan and go with Lloyd; I think this thing is wonderful. In a city with so many cars you need to build parking structures up and not out (I'm from Texas and they cut down the trees to put flat parking lots). I think the structure is useful and beautiful and I certainly appreciate their attempt to draw the community to the area by making it a multi-function structure.
Hooray for such a visually intriguing and green building! Now all they need are some bike racks out front for parking human powered transport....
You either ban cars, or you manage them. If you choose to manage them, manage them well. And Santa Moncia's managing them about as well as possible.
In an ideal world, we'd still have cars. Many, many fewer of them, but we'd still have them. They'd be electric, and we'd park them in places like this, and not on the road.
If the city wants to reduce traffic or car dependency, then it would have many more effective policy tools than not building this garage.
What will be parked in the garage? Can it be considered LEED if gas powered cars that pollute will be parked in the garage? Hopefully the parking is for zero-pollution vehicles.
Randy: People will drive regardless, so it is best to improve the situation.
Did you know that YOU "pollute" by breathing? By your logic, even a mud hut is not environmentally sustainable if it houses a nasty breathing human.
I agree that you can not eliminate cars, you can only manage them better, control and limit thier usage and make the cars more green. Garages are necessary, it is how you design and site them that is important.
One way to make it even more green is to use an automated parking system. This would eliminate the driving and idling of cars within the garage while they find parking spaces, that would really cut down emissions. Also, in an urban setting where not only is land a premium, it also is better used for green park spaces, an automated parking garage would take up 33% less area and 33% less height. It could also be put underground allowing for a large open green space at street level.
Apparently you all are missing the biggest problem with the parking garage. The sure ugliness, and the most obscene lack of quality architectue and design I have ever seen.
THIS BUILDING IS INDEED AN EYESORE. HORRIBLY UGLY DURING THE DAY, SOMEWHAT LESS HIDEOUS AT NIGHT WHEN THE PRETTY COLORED LIGHTS ARE ON.
IT IS BUILT NEXT TO THE EVIL-LOOKING POLICE/FIRE DEPARTMENT HQ AND FITS IN NICELY WITH SANTA MONICA'S PLANS TO ENSURE THAT FUTURE GENERATIONS OF BUILDING DEMOLITION CREWS STAY EMPLOYED.
SOMEHOW, REMARKABLY, THE RECENTLY COMPLETED RAND CORP BUILDING THAT'S JUST ACROSS THE WAY FROM THIS MONSTROSITY IS MORE ATTRACTIVE -- BUT ALL OF THE NEWER BUILDINGS ARE PUT TO SHAME BY THE CITY'S DECO CITY HALL. AWARDING THE CONTRACT TO MOORE RUBEL YUDELL MIGHT HAVE BEEN A WISE MOVE, BUT THE RESULTS APPEAR TO WORK AGAINST THIS NOTION.
ANONYMOUS ABOVE IS CORRECT ABOUT THE OXYMORONIC NOTION OF A LEED CERTIFIED PARKING GARAGE -- IT MAKES LITTLE SENSE AND WOULD HAVE BEEN (POSSIBLY) WISER TO THINK ABOUT ADDING A CITY BIKE PROGRAM (SUCH AS THEY HAVE IN EU), MORE TRAMS / FREE BUSES TO/FROM CITY HALL AND AN ENDLESS PROGRESSION OF CONCEPTS THAT ARE FAR MORE VISIONARY THAN A GREENED-UP PARKING LOT.
AND BOOHOO TO ALL OF YOU CHEERLEADERS FOR THIS MISDIRECTED EFFORT. USE YOUR REACH AND VOICE TO CONDEMN THIS FOR WHAT IT IS: AN UGLY, WASTEFUL FOLLY.