Macys Parking Garage
NorthPark Center
Dallas, Texas
5 Levels; 598,000 Sq. Ft.
1,671 Parking Spaces
$13.4 M
2005

Nordstrom Parking Garage
NorthPark Center
Dallas, Texas
Northwest Deck
6 Levels; 850,700 Sq. Ft.

2,235 Parking Spaces
$18.4 M
2005

Architect: Omniplan, Inc.

In November 2003, NorthPark Center began planning a mall expansion as well as construction of two new parking garages. Construction time was critical for both garages because the mall had to have the first two levels of the Macys garage’s north half open by Thanksgiving 2004. In addition, both garages had to be open for the 2005 holiday shopping season. The Macys Garage took 31 weeks to construct and the Nordstrom Garage took 39 weeks.

Both garages have upturned perimeter beams along the garage perimeter, which serve three functions: provide structural support for the slab, resist car impact forces, and provide backup for the brick veneer. In addition, the upturned perimeter beams conveniently allow more sunlight and air into the parking garage when compared to typical down turned perimeter beams. The increased amounts of sunlight and air make the garage feel more open and less confined. Furthermore, the perimeter columns are offset to the interior from the perimeter beams, which reduces the columns’ visual impact and emphasizes the garages’ slender perimeter beams.

The exterior façades of both garages are composed of a combination brick, painted cast in place concrete, and architectural precast members. The east and west garage elevations consist of long brick bands terminating into rectangular vertical panels of brick that extend from the foundation to one level below the top level.  The top-level perimeter of each garage is a continuous brick band.  The long brick bands are supported on an extension of the cast in place slab while the brick panels are supported with either lintel angles attached by wedge inserts or from the foundation. Painted concrete beams are utilized for the east and west ramp elevations on the garages’ north and south ends. As a value engineering item, painted concrete perimeter beams are utilized along the entire east elevation of the Nordstrom garage. The north and south elevations, which conceal the garage ramps, are full height brick with selected locations of precast concrete fins. The façade along with each garage’s layout uniquely blend each garage with the mall beyond.