Podium Parking means parking spaces covered by a building’s ground floor and enclosed by walls. Podium parking occurs at or below sidewalk level.
Steel parking structures have steel components connected for load-bearing purposes and rigidity.
Parking Facilities Information
- Westquay car park closes overnight; last entry at 10pm, first exit at 5:30am.
- Overnight charge is £5, validated by hotel.
- Free city centre parking includes Albion Place and Amoy Street.
Below grade parking reduces the need for excavation.
Ramp installation costs range between $100-$250 per foot. Modular ramps may incur premium costs due to their design and features.
In "podium and tower" buildings, towers rise above podiums.
Types of Parking and Their Features
- Stilt parking utilizes ground floor concrete pillars as semi-open parking.
- Carports are open, while garages are enclosed.
- Porte-cocheres are covered building entrances designed for vehicular access.
Podium slabs are architectural features that separate parking from living spaces, providing sound and fire protection, and allow for thinner structural frames.
Podium parking not only has a high fire rating but also reduces sound and vibration. It is cost-effective because of the open space below and its ability to transfer loads from above to walls and columns below.
Type 5 buildings typically consist of concrete lower stories with wood framing above, which allows for long floor spans to accommodate parked car rows without columns, although office floors may need additional support.
Definition and Purpose of Podiums
A podium is a platform that raises something above its surrounding environment. This term is often used in architecture to denote the base on which a building rests.
In modern buildings, the podium level can signify the raised platform at the ground floor, featuring entrances and sometimes offices. In skyscrapers, it often corresponds to the lowest public floor, which might house shops and restaurants.
The podium supports the upper floors and in some instances may serve as an exterior platform for parking, recreation, and other activities.
Podium construction is characterized by horizontal divisions, with an upper tower situated atop a lower concrete or steel podium, often capped by wood stories. This structural approach facilitates creative architectural designs for both residential and commercial buildings and allows for efficient load distribution from upper structures to the foundation.