Architectural drawings of parking garages?

January 11, 2005 7:43 AM

I'm looking for architectural drawings of parking garages. My partner and I want to build a parking garage on a 22,000 square foot property in a downtown area of South Florida. I would like to see how a build-out comparable in size might look. Anyone have any resources or ideas?
posted by travis vocino to home & garden (7 comments total)

Via kottke.org;
Sketches
posted by stuartmm at 8:14 AM on January 11, 2005

I would check in with your city's (or elsewhere if there is one that you have in mind) planning or building permits office. They may have plans available. I'm not sure about drawings, but they may also be able to direct you to the firms that constructed the garages, who may have drawings on file.
posted by stefnet at 8:17 AM on January 11, 2005

I don't know the first thing about drafting, but this looks like it might be worth a look.
posted by deshead at 8:22 AM on January 11, 2005

stuartmm: those sketches are straight out of Architectural Graphic Standards, a readily available (albeit ridiculously expensive) book. I think they might be reproduced in a Francis Ching book as well.

stefnet: I was thinking the same thing, but at least around here, you can look but not take drawings from the building department. Trying to get drawings from a firm that built or designed an existing garage will basically be hiring them to design yours--they're not just going to let you have their drawings since those are, in essence, their product and intellectual property.
posted by LionIndex at 10:40 AM on January 11, 2005

Ah, yes, that's true... It seemed like the poster was more interested in the looking end of things. But I think I'm too comfortable as a preservation student and having access to certain things because they know I'll be using it for academic purposes!
posted by stefnet at 4:55 PM on January 11, 2005

I think they'll probably have to hire someone to design/build it anyway, so they actually might as well start at the building department and see who does them locally.
posted by LionIndex at 5:11 PM on January 11, 2005

I assume you're just looking for some pictures to get an idea of what it could look like, right? If you're actually starting the design process, I agree with LionIndex - you need to find and hire a design professional (architect and/or structural engineer.) But you probably already knew this if you're a developer.

Anyway, if it's just pictures, you can try some design professionals' websites with portfolios, like here. Or here.

Also try this page - there is a list of links to various award winning garage projects on the right hand side of the page.
posted by pitchblende at 5:43 PM on January 11, 2005