The City of Palms Parking Garage is a 5-story, 187,000 square foot precast concrete structure which provides parking for 560 cars. The structure also provides 6,000 square feet of retail space at the street level.
The garage was designed to be sympathetic to its urban context and to be pedestrian friendly. It was also anticipated to be the gateway to downtown Fort Myers and to stimulate interest and activity in the newly created First Street Entertainment district. In addition to promoting business, the retail storefronts on two sides of the building exceed the pedestrian district requirements of providing a transparent glass storefront, promoting a pleasing experience for pedestrians in the district.
The design of the details, lighting, signage, streetscape, and the selection of colors were all part of a package intended to transcend the simple function of storing automobiles, and to become a tool to inspire urban renewal.
The project was also the first experience the City of Fort Myers had in the construction management approach to project delivery. The team of Gora/McGahey, Centex Rooney Construction, and the owner successfully teamed together to create a building which met all project goals of scope, quality, schedule, and budget.