Houston, the fourth largest city in the country, continues to experience incredible growth. In turn, the Houston Airport System is also expanding at a rapid pace. William P. Hobby Airport has transformed from a smaller airport that only flies to domestic destinations to an international one where Southwest Airlines (SWA) has a large presence. So large that SWA is funding the construction of a new, international terminal set to open later this year.
rendering courtesy of: HarrisonKornberg Architects
Aligning with the airport’s terminal addition is the increased need for parking. Walker Parking Consultants is the prime designer of the new, nearly 3,000-space parking garage currently under construction. This structure anticipates being one of the first parking garages in Houston to receive the Green Garage Certification from the Green Parking Council.
Designed with the future in mind, the structure will meet parking needs anticipated in 2030. The parking garage’s breakthrough concepts include environmentally-friendly features including LED lighting throughout, which dims as natural light increases, and efficient use of green space – a pervious sod fire lane. The structure will also offer 10 charging spaces for electric vehicles. Two atriums will add additional light and will be landscaped with low-light, adaptive plantings. Around the exterior, drivers will see abundant landscaping that changes with the seasons as they circle the airport. A parking guidance system that shows open spaces using single-stall overhead LED indicators; accurate car count message centers directing drivers at every major intersection as to how many spaces are available ahead; and vehicular bridges between the new and existing garages at every level to minimize the time it takes to find an available space, are all components that will help decrease automobile emissions.
photo courtesy of: SpawGlass
Walker Parking Consultants is committed to sustainability, both in principle and practice. This project is just one of many examples as to how Walker demonstrates our green way of thinking and running our business.
For additional information on our company’s pledge to sustainable design, contact Jeff Smallidge, PE, LEED AP BD+C and for further details on this specific project, contact James Brooks, PE, LEED AP.