NEW PARK HOMEHOME RU RU FOR BRONX, NY     Award-Winning Yankees Stadium Parking Complex Serves as a Vital Community Resource

14 November 2010 l International Parking Institute For decades, fans of the New York Yankees faced an ordeal when traveling to cheer on their team. neighborhood in which Yankee Stadium is located suffered from a shortage of safe and convenient parking, and many fans were forced to take long subway trips to get to and from the park.

Even with the opening of the new Yankee Form and Function Stadium last year, the parking situation was The structures themselves stand out for their slow to improve. The stadium’s 2009 launch impressive architecture and functional designs. was accompanied by the opening of the first of In fact, the complex earned this year’s Real three new parking structures that would even- Estate and Construction Review’s Building of tually comprise an award-winning parking America Award. complex. That structure made a dent in the The complex is comprised of three structures: parking shortage, but the situation did not truly the Ruppert Plaza Garage, the 161st Street turn around until this year when the complex’s Garage, and the 164th Street Garage. Each of other two structures opened. Located directly the structures is constructed with precast adjacent to the stadium, the complex offers nearly concrete, and each also incorporates special 4,000 parking spaces in three separate facilities. design features to support non-parking functions. The $260 million parking complex stands as The largest of the three, the Ruppert Plaza James R. Branch, PE an example of the far-reaching impact that Garage, boasts more than 1,600 parking spaces parking facilities can have on a community. In on three levels. It was originally planned as a addition to providing much-needed parking for steel framed structure, but the design team was the ballpark, as well as the community as a able to reduce development costs considerably whole, the complex also serves as a vital recre- and speed completion of development by using ational resource for neighborhood residents. precast instead. Additionally, the use of precast ING IS This unique multi-use facility truly promises to concrete improved the parking service and transform the neighborhood. made the structure itself more durable and easier The structures hold an important place in this to maintain. Bronx community. The Bronx is, overall, closely As impressive as the parking elements of the developed and suffers from significant traffic Ruppert Plaza Garage are, though, it really and resultant congestion, and has a lack of shines as an essential part of the neighborhood’s NN green space for local residents to enjoy. In addi- revitalization. The structure features a state-of- tion to providing parking for Yankees games, the-art rooftop park and recreational facility that these parking facilities can also be used by includes one of the finest competition tracks in local residents and business owners, reducing . Additionally, the rooftop the number of parked vehicles on neighborhood recreational facility has eight handball courts; a streets. Local residents and business owners are competition-sized field that can be used for already feeling the positive impact on the quality either football or soccer games, and includes a of life in the neighborhood, as this corner of the 600-seat grandstand for spectators; four basketball Bronx is less congested and enjoys a more courts; and a new public restroom and terrace aesthetically pleasing environment. for picnickers.

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The Ruppert Plaza Garage also features structural engineers; Clarke Caton Hintz, neighborhood’s complexion. The parking impressive landscaping, including a beautiful who handled architecture and landscape complex features a number of recreational sledding hill that connects the park surrounding architecture; Kelter & Gilligo, who oversaw resources, including tracks for local residents to the structure with the adjacent Ruppert Plaza mechanical, electrical, and plumbing func- run on, fields on which to compete, and green and Heritage Hill. The entire complex is tions; and Standard Parking, who manages fields on which to play. And families have a surrounded by greenery to insulate it from its parking operations. new area for get-togethers and picnics. busy urban surroundings. The integrated The Yankee Stadium parking complex excels And by providing space for residents to park recreation area truly is a haven set in the as a parking resource, providing parking for their cars when the Yankees are out of town or middle of the busy Bronx neighborhood. nearly 4,000 vehicles on a very tight footprint. before games, the parking complex is reducing The second structure, the 161st Street Through a number of creative design elements, congestion on neighborhood streets. As a result, Garage, is a four-level facility that can serve including the ramp directly connecting the the neighborhood is less congested, visibility for nearly 1,000 vehicles. The facility shares a complex to the , parkers pedestrians is improved, and the streets are safer. common floor plate with the Ruppert Plaza enjoy an incredibly convenient experience. In recent years, multi-use design has been one Garage, and a ramp that connects directly to the Anyone who has attended a major league sporting of the hottest trends in parking development. For Macombs Dam Bridge spanning the Harlem event knows how rare that can be! the most part, the trend has focused on how parking

River. This is a particularly convenient feature But perhaps the most impressive thing about can be combined with beneficial services like for Yankees fans and other visitors who come the parking complex is how it is helping to residences, stores and other businesses, and even from – and return to – . transform the Bronx neighborhood in which it entertainment facilities. The new Yankee Stadium Finally, the 164th Street Garage is a five-story is located. The area surrounding Yankee Stadium Parking Complex demonstrates another side of structure that stands directly adjacent to Yankee has always been busy and congested, with multi-use design. It shows how parking develop- Stadium. Its facade features blue lighting and minimal green space. The construction of the ment can be used to help turn a congested, stainless steel mesh, and is designed to comple- new Yankee Stadium exacerbated the problem over-developed community into an urban oasis.  ment the architecture of Yankee Stadium. The because it was developed on one of the few 250,000-square-foot parking structure can serve open green spaces in the area. James R. Branch, P. E., is vice president and approximately 800 vehicles. Because of its close However, the community elements built regional manager of FST Engineers Inc. He can proximity to Yankee Stadium, the south wall of into the parking complex have changed the be reached at [email protected] or www.fstinc.com. the facility features a blast-resistant design meant to prevent terrorist attacks against the stadium.

An Urban Oasis The development of the Yankee Stadium parking complex serves as an example of the progress that can be accomplished through a private/public partnership. The success of the partnership relied upon important contribu- tions from two city agencies, NYC Parks and NYC Economic Development, in conjunction with the private design/build team. The design/build team included Prismatic Development Corporation and Hunter Roberts Construction Group JV, who served as contractors; FST Engineers Inc., who served as lead

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