Background

The Mayflower Hotel, located in Washington, DC a few blocks from the White House, is a prominent and historic luxury hotel.  It is known as the “Grande Dame of Washington,” “Hotel of Presidents,” and as the City’s “Second Best Address”, after the White House. The building is on the National Park Historic Gallery.

Hotel construction began in 1922 and opened to much fanfare in 1925. A number of additions, renovations, and expansions have occurred to the building in its 94 year history. The 11-story hotel provides guest accommodations in over 581 rooms.

 

Our Work

Asset Management Firm, CHMWarnick, engaged Walker on behalf of the owners of the Mayflower to assess the building façade and address any exterior elements requiring refurbishment.

In June of 2016, Walker began the assessment of the existing condition of the brick, terra cotta and cast stone of the façade as well as the large ornate urns at the roof’s perimeter.

 

 

Focusing our efforts on the upper two floors, we identified isolated areas of deterioration and then worked with the selected contractor to repair the areas, including two of the urns, and extended the useful life of this Historic hotel.

 

 

Walker’s project team included:

• Greg Neiderer (Principal-in-Charge)
• Kate Stairs (Project Manager)
• John McHugh (Project Field Lead).

 

For more information on Walker Restoration Consultants’ areas of expertise, visit their website here.

Background

OSF Saint Francis Medical Center is located in Peoria, Illinois. Four years after the Children’s Hospital of Illinois opened its new building, the Lynn & Jerry Flaherty Family Respite Garden celebrated its opening with a blessing and ribbon cutting. With a donation of $500,000 from Lynn and Jerry Flaherty to fund the project (a gift also matched by Caterpillar), the space provides a peaceful area for families of children receiving care at Children’s Hospital.

The Healing Garden

Running the length of the building, the garden features seating areas covered by canopies, trees, shrubs, perennials, ornamental grasses, a water feature and a rock “stream”. Some of the trees and overhead shade structures are visible from nearby Interstate 74.

The concept for the project was the woods and the meadow. The seating area represents the “woods” and the rest of the garden is the “meadow”. The garden walls are made of lightweight materials molded directly from natural garden stone. The existing roof slopes for proper drainage. A pedestal system supports the walking surface to allow for a level walk, so the tables and chairs are not on a sloping surface.

Our Work

Walker provided a peer review of the rooftop garden detailing, which was prepared by the architect on behalf of the medical center.

The Importance of a Peer Review

The peer review of the project deliverable is a critical quality control step toward a successful outcome. A peer review can catch errors and/or omissions before they become serious problems. If done at intervals during the course of the project, the peer review can go a long way to keeping the project within budget and avoiding costly surprises. Also a peer reviewer might be able to provide additional advice that could be useful in improving the work. For more information about this crucial service contact us today!

Jonathan Wicks joined Walker’s Parking Operations Consulting Group after 10 years of leadership positions with private parking operators. Based out of the Los Angeles office, he covers the West Coast. He has expertise in all manners of parking including Class A commercial garages, hotel, event and stadium, on street valet, mixed use, municipalities, off-airport, and flat lots.

He has developed parking policy and procedures and consulted for the City of Beverly Hills, SFMTA, Starwood, CIM, LBA, the Irvine Company, and the Counties of Santa Clara, Alameda, and Contra Costa. He is a forward thinking parking operator who has recently led work in mobile App development and EV implementation.

We had a chance to sit down with Jonathan and ask him a few questions. Check out his story in this month’s Walker Headlights!

Q: How did you get started in the parking/transportation industry?

A: I had just graduated college and my girlfriend’s sister’s fiancé got me into parking management. He was managing the valet at the W Hotel in Westwood, CA whose new nightclub was popular with celebrities at the time. It was so busy in the evenings, the valet manager used to say a prayer before each shift hoping all the valets scheduled to work would show up. They needed bodies just to move cars off the public street, service was an afterthought. I was referred for the assistant manager position and was hired but placed at another hotel, the Century Plaza in Century City, CA. I was 25 years old and managing union valets who’d worked at that hotel longer than I’d been alive.

Q: What are some of the big lessons you learned while working for private parking operators?

A: You absolutely must know your sub-markets and on-street conditions. If a garage a half-block away changes their rate structure, you as an operator must respond accordingly or miss out on potential revenue for your client.

Q: What do you find most rewarding about your role as a parking consultant at Walker?

A: I believe our projects at Walker have real world implications and immediate benefits for the public at large. Not only do we aim to make the act of parking a more pleasant experience, we right size parking, so garages are not overbuilt. This saves developers and members of the public money in the long run and hopefully leaves space for more desirable and beneficial land uses.

Q: What’s the most exciting part of being in parking consulting?

A: Every day is different. I can work on one project for weeks at a time, or several projects in a day. Each equally interesting and almost all offer growth and learning opportunities.

Q: You have been a part of many projects here at Walker, can you pinpoint your favorite?

A: I’ve been fortunate enough to travel to Honolulu, HI twice for projects this year. I should discount that work more to get repeat business on the islands.

Q: What trends do you see in the parking industry?

A: Parking will change in 2 major ways over the next 5 – 10 years. 1) Connected cars will communicate with parking equipment and garages to not only pay for parking but also find available stalls. Google recently launched a feature on their Waze app which helps drivers find parking at their destination. 2) The driving public will begin to transition to self-driving vehicles which will more efficiently use public and private parking supply in central business districts.

Q: When working with a city to develop parking policy and procedures, what do you find to be the most interesting part of the process?

A: Parking is like the game of baseball. The game is the same no matter where you play, but each city has a different stadium with unique dimensions and character. Helping a city maintain their local character while solving for parking problems everyone has been experiencing is very satisfying.

Q: You like to travel – what’s a favorite place that you have visited?

A: Croatia. I’ve been 2 summers in a row and hope to go back next year.

Q: Have you noticed any differences in the parking culture of other countries versus the U.S.?

A: Reserved parking in parts of Europe is managed through a pop-up lock which resembles a bike stand. Only the owner of the stall can unlock and use the space.

Q: What parking innovation are you most excited for?

A: I think autonomous cars are inevitable and will make city living the optimal use of our planet’s limited resources.

Q: What kind of parking mobile apps do you think will be used in the future?

A: I think pay-by-phone apps which make paying for parking easier will continue to grow, especially as mobile wallets replace credit cards as the preferred payment device for many Americans.

Q: If you weren’t working in parking, what do you think you’d be doing?

A: Probably on a beach in Croatia writing poetry.

Q: In your downtime, what do you like to do for fun?

A: I love being outside. Beach volleyball and hiking are passions of mine.

Q: What would we find you doing on a typical weekend?

A: I would definitely be near a beach somewhere.

Q: I’m sensing a strong beach theme. What is something about you that doesn’t involve sand?

A: I once sang on stage, poorly, with Shania Twain.

Thank you, Jonathan!

If you’d like to get in touch with Jonathan, you can reach him here.

WALKER EMPLOYEES HONORED AMONG PARKING INDUSTRY’S MOST INFLUENTIAL YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

The National Parking Association Announces its 2016 class of the 40 Under 40

The National Parking Association (NPA) has honored two representatives from Walker as part of its 2016 40 Under 40 class of young professionals and up-and-coming leaders in the parking industry. The 40 Under 40 recognizes individuals representing multiple sectors of the parking industry, and honorees will be inducted into the awards program at the NPA 2016 Convention & Expo on September 20th in Atlanta, GA.

Walker’s honorees include:

Bradley Navarro, PE Director of Operations in Walker’s Elgin office, has over 16 years of experience in the parking design and consulting industry. Brad was recognized for his ability to exceed clients expectations through creative parking solutions and advancing the parking industry by educating the public.

 

 

 

An Nguyen Director of Business Development in Walker’s Los Angeles office, has over 12 years of experience in the parking industry. An was recognized for his ability to get people thinking about the entire parking experience and for being an excellent ambassador for the parking industry.

“NPA is extremely proud to recognize the impact of the parking industry’s best and brightest young professionals, and to also foster leadership development that will continue the industry’s innovation and growth,” said NPA President Christine Banning, MA, CAE. “The parking industry is undergoing dramatic change, especially in the area of technology, and young professionals are the forefront of this revolution. The 40 individuals selected represent major facets of the parking industry, and we are pleased to give them a platform to stand up and be counted.”

The Capital Crescent Garage wins the 2016 Award for Excellence from the International Parking Institute. The 1,248 space garage won in Category II: Best Design of a Parking Facility with 800 or More Spaces.

This new mixed-use structure, located in Bethesda, Maryland, features two residential buildings and 42,000 square feet of retail. The garage provides 984 public parking spaces and 264 privately owned residential spaces. This is contained in a four level, below-grade parking structure. Six electric vehicle (EV) charging stations are provided. Hand-painted art glass windows that depict the history of Montgomery County add interest and aesthetics to the elevator/pay-station lobbies.

Megan Gardo, Parking Analyst II, joined Walker Parking Consultants in 2007 and works out of our Philadelphia office. We welcome you to get to know more about Megan in this month’s Walker Headlights.

Q: Congratulations on your recent award from the Greater Valley Forge Transportation Management Association! You were recognized as one of the Top Transportation Demand Management Professional under 40. Tell us about this experience.

A: The Greater Valley Forge Transportation Management Association is a local advocacy group focusing on developing sustainability in our region, specifically focusing on transportation Demand Management issues.  Several members of my office nominated me for the award as a surprise.  And it most definitely was a surprise!

The awards were presented to individuals with a variety of backgrounds throughout the region who are working to find creative solutions to improve our quality of life through engineering, planning, and marketing, as well as developing commuting alternatives.  It was an honor to be included among individuals working so hard to guide the community towards a more sustainable future.

Q: This has already been a rewarding year for you, do you have any goals for the rest of 2016?

A:  I don’t have any specific goals at this time.  My overall plan is to continue to grow in the field and expand my skill set and experience.  I hope to continue to work with multiple consultants throughout the company, both learning new concepts and providing assistance where I can in order to provide clients with the best possible recommendations.

Q: What brought you into the parking industry?

A:  I graduated from Penn State in 2007, with a degree in actuarial science through the business college.  After completing my internship, I knew I wanted to explore my options outside of my field of study.  Parking, and Walker, kind of happened by accident.  I interviewed with Greg Neiderer (a marathon interview of five hours, including a skills test!) and found the concept very interesting.  Parking impacts everybody and I had never really thought about the science or art behind designing parking.

Q: What’s something unique that many people don’t know about you?

A:  Every Tuesday, well almost every Tuesday, for the last nine years, I meet up with friends from grade school to drink coffee and catch up.

Q: If you could share a meal and conversation with any person, who would that be and why?

A:  I don’t know if I could narrow it down to one person.  Some days I’d say it would be my grandfather.  I think I would have liked to know him as an adult and get to know him better.  Other days I’d say my past self or future self, but on both occasions to remember to not sweat the small stuff.  I think a dinner with J.K. Rowling would be an interesting meal.  She overcame a dark period in her life to become a world famous author, billionaire, and philanthropist.  I imagine she has a unique perspective on the world.

Q: You’re located in our Philadelphia office, what is your favorite part about living in Pennsylvania?

A:  I don’t know if it counts, but my favorite thing about living in Pennsylvania is its proximity to the beach!  Most Central Jersey shore points are only 1.5 hours from my house and make a great day trip or weekend visit.

Q: You have been a part of hundreds of projects here at Walker, can you pinpoint your favorite?

A:  I have many favorite projects for one reason or another, but there are a few the stick out in my mind.  I worked on a shared parking study for the Mohegan Sun Casino up in Connecticut.  I learned a tremendous amount about shared parking on that project and got to stay at a beautiful hotel.

There was also a downtown parking study for a project in Iowa.  The study area was fairly large, and required three teams of two to collect the data.  After the survey was over, the group of us, mostly new to the company, would go to dinner and hang out.  While several of them are no longer with the company, we still get together when proximity and time allow.

Q: What might we find you doing on a typical weekend?

A:  I’m pretty boring, unfortunately.  On a typical weekend, I’m probably doing the typical around the house chores, playing in the garden, working on my latest arts & crafts project, hanging around reading a book, getting together with friends, or visiting with my family.  On a less typical weekend, I like to go on day trips to the beach, white water rafting, a trip to NY, or other adventures.

Q: Last month you celebrated nine years at Walker, what has been your best memory to date?

A:  One of my best memories over the last nine years has to do with a project I can only refer to as the “Secured Government Facility.”  I got to visit this very restricted campus, stand in the lobby where a scene from Argo was shot, and visit their super-secret museum and several other really cool artifacts.  During one of my visits, the space shuttle Discovery was being transported to Washington Dulles Airport.  The flight path took the craft directly over our heads at a very low altitude.  It was just amazing.  If only we were allowed to have cameras on campus!

Q: Do you have a favorite television show?

A:  One of my favorite TV shows of all time is Gilmore Girls.  It is one of those shows that I can turn on episode from any point in the series and just enjoy.  I’m very excited for the revival on Netflix.

Q: What advice would you give a young professional interested in entering the parking industry?

A:  First, I’d like to point out that I sort of jumped into the deep end when it came to parking.  I didn’t study urban planning in college.  I didn’t operate a parking garage before joining Walker.  My sole experience with parking was as the end user.  I could recognize when something wasn’t working, but I didn’t necessarily understand why or how to fix it. That all came later, which brings me to my first recommendation.

Look for opportunities to educate yourself on parking, attend seminars, join parking associations, apply for an internship, talk to professionals in the field, and find out where you would like to focus your interests.  And be prepared to continue to learn.  Parking is an evolving field, with new technology constantly changing how parking works.

Thank you, Megan!

If you’d like to get in touch with Megan, you can reach her HERE.

Published in the June/July issue of Airport Business Magazine

 

For most airports, parking is one of their most valuable assets. In addition to being an important source of revenue, airport parking facilities are also essential to the airport’s smooth operation because travelers count on being able to quickly find a parking space near their terminal so they can get to their flights. By providing efficient, user-friendly parking, airports can help assure a smooth transition for travelers from their vehicles to their planes.

The importance of parking as a source of revenue can’t be overstated. In fact, it is generally the largest source of non-airline income for U.S. airports. Parking revenue is so crucial to the ongoing financial well-being of airports that many rely on it to pay for the lion’s share of enhancements and upgrades to services and equipment not associated with parking. Parking revenues are commonly used to help fund terminal improvements, roadway and other infrastructure enhancements, staffing, and even marketing efforts.

As important as parking is to airport operations, it’s surprising how often airport administrators treat it as an afterthought. Many airports take a “build it and forget it” approach to their parking assets. After building new structures, airports administrators often operate them with minimal maintenance, repairing things that wear out or break down, but otherwise paying little attention to maintaining parking facilities. The problem with this approach is that inadequate (or, often, non-existent) maintenance typically causes parking facilities to require  major repairs well before the expected life of the garage, with critical systems, technology and infrastructure breaking down prematurely. These unnecessary break-downs often require unplanned repairs that can significantly impact operations and revenue. All too often, airports are forced to renovate or replace unmaintained structures much earlier than planned — and much sooner than capital planning will allow.

Today, however, some airports are pursuing a more proactive approach, entering into five-year on-call relationships with parking maintenance and restoration experts to minimize wear and tear within the structure, minimize repair costs and put off its eventual replacement. In addition to typical maintenance functions such as concrete restoration and equipment repair, these five-year engagements also typically include upgrades designed to minimize deterioration of the facility and equipment breakdowns. The idea isn’t just to fix things when they go wrong, but to prevent things from going wrong in the first place. It also provides an opportunity to develop and maintain a “wish list” for parking improvements, including lighting upgrades through which existing lights are replaced with energy efficient LED lighting systems; painting ceilings to improve visibility, and improve the overall atmosphere within the structure; operational changes, including adapting driving aisles and pedestrian areas; and introducing new technologies and parking products to improve customer service and enhance operations.

In addition to extending the useful life of parking structures, this proactive approach also improves the day-to-day parking experience for travelers. And when maintenance or repairs are necessary, this more strategic approach typically allows the structure to remain operational when the work is being done.

GETTING STARTED

So, how does a five year maintenance and restoration program work? When the program commences, the first step is to evaluate the current performance of parking areas. There are two areas of primary concern to be evaluated: customer service and operations. In evaluating customer service, airport managers and their operators need to determine whether parking facilities are pleasant, intuitive and convenient for drivers. This largely revolves around determining how easy it is for parkers to find a space close to their gate or other destination, and whether drivers can enter and exit the facility quickly and conveniently. The process begins with an internal inventory. Are stairways and floors clean and well-illuminated? Is access and revenue control equipment in good working order? Are exits and entrances congested? Do parkers have to circle parking areas to find an open space? What is the condition of the existing structure?

On the operational side, the five year program should begin with an equipment and systems audit to assure that facilities are operating at optimum efficiency and that equipment is up-to-date and operating well. This also requires an inventory. Is access and payment equipment working properly? Is facility management equipment and its software up-to-date? Are you charging the right rates? Is technology being used to cost effectively control costs? If your facility accepts credit cards for parking payments, is it compliant with Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI-DSS)?

IMPROVING PARKING

The answers to the questions posed through the inventories will determine what remedies are required, and permit parking consultants and airport administrators to create longterm schedules for maintaining and improving facilities and equipment.

Walker Restoration Consultants recently did some first aid on the Duke University Parking Garage II in Durham, North Carolina. We’re honored to announce that this project won First Place in the Parking Structure Renovated/Rehabilitated Category from the Carolinas Parking Association.

The Structure

The garage contains 2,752 spaces and is an 8-level cast-in-place concrete parking structure. It serves both visitors and employees of the Duke University Medical Center.

The first five levels were constructed in 1977, and the additional 3 levels were added in a vertical expansion in 1988.

 

 

 

 

 

Triage: Observations & Findings

While Walker Restoration’s condition appraisal and evaluation of the garage showed no need for immediate repairs, the structure required plenty of work:

• Cracking
• Delamination
• Reinforcing
• FRP Repairs

Recommended Repairs

Walker Restoration recommended several repairs to bring new life to the structure, including concrete patching, addressing broken PT tendon, replacement of expansion joints and sealant, application of a penetration sealer, FRP installation for beam strengthening, renovating deteriorated stone retaining wall, and installation of new interior guardrails.

The Finished Product

Several repairs were done on the structure including:

• Replaced entire electrical system, including addition of new generator for emergency power
• Upgraded all lighting with new fixtures and daylight harvesting
• Replaced all parking equipment specific to user groups to decrease wait times
• Replaced and added pedestrian and vehicular wayfinding signage
• Painted overhead surfaces and pedestrian cores to increase light effectiveness and enhance pedestrian wayfinding
• Modified function to enable nesting capabilities, increase vehicular flow, and provide additional spaces.

Highlights:

North East Entry/Exit

Reconfigured entry/exit with new signage and equipment.

 

Pay Stations

New pay stations were added in the garage, hospital, and in the tunnel connector. Grace periods vary based on distance from pay station to exit.

 

Concrete Restoration: Expansion Joints

 

Architectural Enhancements

Painted ceilings covering 1.2 million sq. ft. (27 Acres.)

 

Renovated Pedestrian Cores

Better lighting, pedestrian wayfinding cues, and access to emergency call stations.

 

Electrical System Replacement

The existing system was outdated. The new system includes embedded conduit sealed, new surface mount, and on-site emergency power.

New Lighting

Performed mockup. All lighting was replaced to LED, including 1200+ parking, roof, towers, and exterior.

For more information on this project, please reach out to Todd Lohman, PE.