5 Unique Green Parking Garages in the US

Are you looking for the greenest garages in the United States? Today we're going to discuss five unique parking garages located across the states that remarkably include sustainable and green elements. When it comes to parking garages, there are many different factors that go into the design and construction of these structures. One thing that is often overlooked is how sustainable or green a garage can be. The parking garages on this list represent a variety of different designs and styles, mainly in urban settings. Each of these examples is unique in its own right, but they all have one thing in common: They were built with sustainability and environmental responsibility in mind. All of these parking structures have been designed to meet the needs of the people who visit them, while also helping the environment. Let's take a look at five green garages that are making a difference.

T3 Parking Garage - Irvine, CA

Photo courtesy of Danze Blood Architects

T3 Parking Garage - Irvine, CA

Located at a busy intersection of North Lamar Blvd., this parking structure was designed to serve a creative marketing and advertising agency in Austin, Texas. What makes this structure unique is the green roof that acts as the water detention pond and supplies an urban habitat for birds and other wildlife. All water collected from the roof enters a cistern found at the southeast corner of the structure and is used to irrigate the roof and surrounding landscaping. The green walls consist of staggering metal screens that are intertwined with vines.

Ballet Valet Parking Garage

Photo courtesy of arquitectonicageo

Ballet Valet Parking Garage - Miami,FL

Known as the “Chia Garage” or “Stores at the car park” this parking garage is built on top of a renovated retail plaza found on Collins Ave. in the historical art deco district of South Beach Miami. The five-story garage is hidden behind a green wall that imitates the waves of the ocean nearby. The green wall consists of clusia guttifera, concarpus erectus and scavola frutescens plants. Not only does the green wall function as a screen for the parked cars but also helps reduce sound.

Sage Parking Garage

Photo courtesy of JWN Robinson

Sage Parking Garage - Atlanta,GA

This cast in place parking structure unites two of Atlanta’s main attraction sites, Piedmont Park, and Atlanta Botanical Garden. The 7-story garage is intricately incorporated into a step hill, calling for a 50’ tall permanent tie back retaining walls on 3 sides of the garage and the 4th side having a 25’ MSE retaining wall. The structure is dressed in native foliage and precast concrete planter boxes with draping flowering vines that can be found at the perimeter on the upper levels. Pre-cast bridges are incorporated into the design for pedestrian access to the parking facility.

Edward Lifesciences Parking Structure

Photo courtesy of Seasons Landscaping

Edward Life Sciences – Irvine, CA

Spanning over 12 acres and 4 stories tall this garage has the largest hydroponic green wall in the US, which includes 20,000 plants and over 50 different varieties. Lavender, asparagus ferns, grasses and salvia are a few plants that can be found attached to “aqua felt”, which is a recycled synthetic fiber. An underground water tank pumps water to irrigate plants.

Rockhurst University North Parking Garage

Photo courtesy of DNIM

Rockhurst University North Parking Garage – Kansas City, MO

Located at the corner of Troost Ave., this mixed-use facility and parking garage serves both the adjacent community and university; parking on the first level is designated for the general public and the upper levels for the university’s faculty and students. What makes this parking garage sustainable is the 3-story green wall that acts as a buffer for the cars from the street view and a precast wall that helps reduce light pollution to the adjacent residential neighborhood.