If you are reading this article, you are likely facing some parking constraints on your property and you’re interested to know if there are solutions for temporary parking structures in North America.
You may have seen some videos or images of parking decks being erected in a few hours that look like robust scaffolding and can be dismounted and moved from parking lot to parking lot.
While there are some solutions in Europe for this type of solution, finding temporary parking deck options for North America is more difficult.
Let’s find out why.
What are Temporary Parking Structures?
Temporary parking structures are portable buildings designed for short-term use that could be installed over top of an existing parking lot.
Ideally, they do not require any foundations and can be assembled and disassembled in a day or two.
They are intended to add parking spaces to your existing lot on a very short term basis (under 1 year). This might be for a specific event, a busy time of year, or alleviate lost stalls during construction or other events that might be taking up space in your parking lot.
These building systems are modular and can be installed in various configurations to fit the parking lot they are being installed on.
They differ from permanent parking structures in their intended lifespan, foundation requirements, and materials used. While permanent parking structures prioritize durability, aesthetics, and integration into the urban fabric, temporary structures are designed for rapid deployment, flexibility, and easy dismantling.
These buildings systems do exist, particularly in Europe. However, there are several challenges that prevent them from being widespread in North America.
Issues with Temporary Parking Structures in North America
There are several reasons why temporary parking structures and parking decks are not very feasible in North America.
1| Varying Parking Dimensions
The layout of any parking lot, structure, or deck depends entirely on the size requirements for parking spaces and drive aisles.
In Canada and the USA, each municipality has its own bylaws that dictate parking dimensions. The critical dimensions include:
- Parking Space Width
- Parking Space Length
- Drive Aisle Width
For example, a parking lot with one drive aisle and two rows of parking spaces (one on each side of the aisle) will have an overall width equal to:
2 × Parking Space Length + Drive Aisle Width.
The length of the parking lot would be calculated as:
Number of Parking Spaces × Parking Space Width.
This demonstrates how the overall dimensions of the parking lot are determined by the specific measurements of the parking spaces and drive aisle.
Since parking dimensions vary across municipalities, it becomes challenging to design a temporary parking deck system that can be universally deployed in different cities. This limitation significantly reduces the market for such systems, making them economically unfeasible for manufacturers.
In contrast, Europe has standardized parking space dimensions across large regions, enabling companies to produce systems that can be used in multiple cities. Examples of such systems in Europe include:
- Preflex® Parking Garage by CHRISTMANN + PFEIFER
- Sider Park Parking Solution
2| Foundations
Temporary parking structures are designed to be flexible and cost-effective, but they still require some form of foundation to ensure stability and safety. Parking decks must support the weight of multiple vehicles while withstanding wind forces, seismic activity, and other lateral loads generated by vehicle movement.
For installations on existing parking lots, it is often necessary to cut through the asphalt, excavate, and install footings to provide the necessary structural support. While this process is relatively straightforward, it undermines the truly “temporary” nature of the structure, as the footings are typically permanent.
In Europe, some temporary parking systems are designed to bypass excavation and foundation work entirely. These systems, which are generally limited to single-level decks, benefit from different regulatory and structural requirements for foundations. This approach makes them more portable and adaptable to varied site conditions, though their application remains restricted in scale.
3| Surface Topping
Epoxy toppings are essential for parking structures with normal concrete driving surfaces to enhance durability, prevent wear, and ensure sufficient traction. Critically, they also serve to protect the concrete from water and salts, which can seep in and reach the embedded rebar. Without this barrier, the rebar can rust, expand, and cause the concrete to spall and crack, leading to serious structural issues over time.
For temporary parking structures, applying an epoxy topping introduces significant challenges. Since the epoxy covers the entire surface, disassembling and relocating the structure becomes problematic. The surface may be damaged during removal, rendering it unsuitable for reuse at a new location.
If ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) is used instead (like Kiwi Newton uses in the Kiwi CarPark System), the need for epoxy might be mitigated, as UHPC offers enhanced durability and abrasion resistance. On the other hand, steel drive surfaces present their own issues, including wear and tear, corrosion risks, and traction problems due to smoothness. These drawbacks make steel less suitable for long-term functionality, especially in varying environmental conditions. Thus, surface treatment remains a critical consideration for temporary parking applications.
4| Short Spans Requiring More Columns
To address foundation challenges, temporary parking structures often aim to reduce the load on each column. This necessitates shorter beam spans, requiring more columns to support the structure. While this approach minimizes foundation requirements, it introduces a host of other issues.
The increased number of columns reduces the overall efficiency of the parking deck layout. More columns occupy valuable parking space, limiting the number of vehicles that can be accommodated. Additionally, navigating a parking structure with numerous columns can be frustrating for drivers, as it complicates maneuvering and reduces visibility. This reduces the CPTED principles of the parking structure.
From a structural perspective, the abundance of columns increases material usage and assembly complexity, driving up costs and extending construction times. Moreover, the added columns create more points of contact with the foundation, compounding the very foundation challenges this design seeks to mitigate.
Ultimately, the reliance on short spans and excessive columns undermines the practicality and user experience of temporary parking structures, making them less viable compared to more streamlined permanent or modular solutions.
5| Elevators and Stair Towers
Stair towers are essential for multi-level parking structures, while elevators, though not always required, are often included for convenience and accessibility. However, both are challenging to adapt for temporary structures.
Elevators need permanent shafts, robust foundations, and precise alignment, making them less practical to dismantle and relocate. Their complex systems—electrical, hydraulic, or traction—are expensive and not easily repurposed for short-term use.
Stair towers, though simpler, still require secure anchoring and materials durable enough for heavy traffic. Modular options may meet these needs but add complexity to temporary designs.
While not impossible, the inclusion of elevators and stair towers in temporary parking structures complicates their portability, increasing costs and reducing practicality for short-term deployments.
Demountable vs. Temporary
What is Demountable Compared to Temporary?
The primary distinction between demountable and temporary structures lies in their design and intended lifespan. Demountable structures are built with structural elements designed for disassembly, often using bolted connections to allow for reuse.
These systems can be unbolted and relocated without significant damage to the components, making them ideal for redeployment.
In contrast, temporary structures prioritize rapid installation for short-term use, often sacrificing long-term durability and adaptability for convenience.
While temporary structures are typically intended to last less than a year, demountable structures are designed to remain in place for longer periods, often making them a more cost-effective solution over a 10-year timeframe.
Timeframe
Temporary parking structures are suited for short-term needs, such as events or temporary expansions, with a typical lifespan of under one year.
Demountable structures, on the other hand, are intended to remain functional for a decade or more, balancing durability with the ability to be disassembled and relocated.
The extended timeframe of demountable structures makes them a more economically viable choice despite their higher initial costs and the challenges of relocation.
Demountable Use Cases
Demountable structures are particularly beneficial for organizations with large campuses and properties with dynamic space requirements, such as airports, universities, and hospitals.
These structures can be erected in one location and later moved as the campus expands or needs shift. This can be achieved because the parking dimensions will be the same across the campus, therefore the same structural layout and building components can be used.
Cost to Relocate
The cost of disassembling and relocating a demountable structure is highly project-dependent, influenced by factors like soil conditions, foundation requirements, and transportation logistics.
As a general guideline, relocation costs can be approximately 50% of the expense of constructing a new structure. While this is not insignificant, it is often justified by the extended use and flexibility that demountable structures provide.
Demountable Parking Structure Option
Kiwi Newton is one of the only companies in North America the designs, manufactures, and constructs a demountable parking structure option.
The building system is very similar to our Kiwi CarPark System, a modular parking structure system that was originally designed for permanent parking structures.
We have built many parking structure projects with the Kiwi CarPark system and have designed a demountable variation that assembles using bolted connections in all areas.
We have used the demountable design on a parking deck project for a large airport. The project includes two suspended parking decks and holds a total of 1,500 cars in the footprint.
Benefits of Modular and Prefabrication for Parking Structures
Modular and prefabricated parking structures offer numerous advantages, including speed, cost-efficiency, and sustainability. These systems are built off-site in controlled environments, reducing construction timelines, minimizing disruptions, and ensuring consistent quality.
The Kiwi CarPark System exemplifies the potential of modular and prefab parking solutions, delivering robust, efficient, and low-maintenance structures.
A modular parking structure like the Kiwi CarPark System integrates advanced design and manufacturing techniques to optimize construction. Its prefabricated parking structure components, including UHPC precast concrete and galvanized steel elements, are produced with precision and assembled quickly on-site.
This approach reduces labor costs, shortens project timelines, and minimizes environmental impacts.
Modular parking structures also offer flexibility for future modifications or expansions, adapting to changing needs. As a leader in prefabricated parking solutions, the Kiwi CarPark System provides prefab parkades with enhanced durability and reduced long-term maintenance costs.
For projects requiring speed, efficiency, and sustainability, prefab parking structures like the Kiwi CarPark System present a turnkey solution that balances performance and adaptability.
Learn more about these innovative prefabricated parking solutions to meet your parking demands efficiently.
