Planning and Constructing ConRACs & Parking Garages
Introduction
Turner has a portfolio that reflects more than $2 billion in related ConRAC, airport parking deck, intermodal, and garage projects at Boston (BOS), Columbus (CMH), Dallas Fort Worth (DFW), Indianapolis (IND), Grand Rapids (GRR), Miami (MIA), Orlando (MCO), Pittsburgh (PIT), San Antonio (SAT), and Seattle-Tacoma (SEA).
Consolidated Rental Car Facilities (ConRACs) are pivotal in the transportation and travel industry. These state-ofthe-art facilities serve as centralized hubs for rental car services at major airports, offering a streamlined and efficient experience for travelers and rental car providers.
As airports evolve to meet modern travelers’ demands, ConRACs play a crucial role in shaping a more integrated, sustainable future for ground transportation services. This introduction merely scratches the surface of the multifaceted benefits and innovations associated with ConRACs, as they continue to redefine the landscape of airport travel.
The following are key strategies, best practices, insights, and proven methodologies that contribute to the optimal operation, management, and sustainability of Consolidated Rental Car (ConRAC) and parking garage facilities. Whether you are involved in planning, construction, or ongoing operation, this compilation aims to provide valuable insights to ensure the success and efficiency of your project.
EARLY STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT:
• Establish early engagement with owners, stakeholders, and concessionaires to understand their needs and expectations.
• Identify and address potential cost, schedule, design, functionality, and safety challenges during preconstruction.
DESIGN DEVELOPMENT PHASE:
• The Design Development phase is crucial for making informed decisions.
• Analyze design options that balance cost and schedule while meeting the airport’s needs.
• Consider aesthetic, functionality, and operational components in decision-making.
SCOPE AND PARAMETER DEFINITION:
• Clearly establish the scope and parameters of each building system during the design phase.
• Communicate project assumptions through detailed estimates and analysis.
• Use this information as a foundation for subsequent project development, ensuring completeness despite evolving designs.
STRUCTURAL SYSTEM SELECTION:
• During the Design Phase, early selection of the structural system is crucial.
• Consider local precast concrete plants for availability, capacity, and quality/resilience.
• Collaborate with the selected structural fabricator (precast firm) early in the design phase.
WAYFINDING:
• Incorporate wayfinding as a central element in the design and construction phases.
• Ensure clear signage, visual cues, and intuitive layouts for passengers and employees.
TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION:
• Construction Teams help with “future proofing” the planning and infrastructure needed to facilitate future systems/technologies from the airports, designers, and car rental companies.
• Integrate cutting-edge technologies such as smartphones, smart parking sensors, self-serve kiosks, Wi-Fi, and Flight/Gate Information Displays.
• Align technology implementation with passenger needs.
ConRAC at San Antonio International Airport (SAT)
• Collaborate with industry experts, such as the ACAA’s (Air Carrier Access Act) Information Technology Advisory Board, to incorporate new technologies.
REVENUE GENERATION STRATEGIES:
• Acknowledge the airport as a business entity, emphasizing the need for revenue generation to sustain and enhance operations.
• Collaborate with the Design Team, Project Management (PM), and stakeholders to enhance the overall ease of use for passengers and employees, encouraging repeat visits and positive feedback.
• Optimize advertising spaces within the airport environment, capitalizing on high-visibility areas to increase revenue streams.
• From the Conception through Design Phase, facilitate exposure to retail offerings, including parking facilities, rental car services, and vendor spaces, to create additional revenue channels and enhance the passenger experience.
QUICK-TURN AROUND (QTA):
• Fuel farm systems, car wash systems and the overall relationship of the ConRAC and Quick Turner Around (QTA) components.
• Engage Design Assist partners specifically for these specialized systems. Opt for specialized trade partners, particularly for the fueling aspect, who have experience with similar projects, avoiding dependence on the local market.
• Conduct a peer review or enlist the expertise of a specialty consultant to scrutinize the structural and
architectural intricacies related to car wash bays, particularly if they are elevated. Addressing challenges such as waterproofing and split slab construction requires meticulous attention to detail.
• To optimize competition and resource utilization, it is advisable to distinctively manage the procurement for the RAC garage separately from the QTA. These two projects are distinct, exhibiting notable differences in structure and limited communication between them.
• Special attention should be given to expansion joints, often overlooked but crucial, particularly in the RAC garage. The vehicles moving at high speeds within this facility make the choice of expansion joints significant. Traditional surface-mounted expansion joint covers, prone to clanging and banging, can cause substantial disruption to the RAC companies and adversely impact the overall customer experience.
DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS:
• Apply local seismic codes to avoid unnecessary costs driven by design principles from different seismic zones.
• Use epoxy-coated concrete steel reinforcing for resilience against extreme weather conditions.
• Consider snow management systems for cold weather climates.
• Engage early with parking concessionaires for integrated Parking Guidance Systems.
COMMISSIONING/LEED:
• Identify a LEED consultant, usually a third party, with Parksmart Certification (a program that
defines, measures, and recognizes high-performing, sustainable garages) to coordinate design decisions.
• Align parking garage design with LEED/Parksmart standards.
ELECTRIC VEHICLES (EV):
• Address EV challenges early in the design phase.
• Consider implications on building/fire codes and ARFF (Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting).
• Evaluate the need for fire suppression systems to handle potential battery fires.
LINKING FUNDING SOURCE REQUIREMENTS:
• Understand governmental agency funding requirements.
• Seek waivers for requirements not typical for vertical construction.
OPERATIONAL READINESS ACCEPTANCE AND TURNOVER (ORAT):
• By forming an ORAT team at the start of the project, the end-user can have a direct impact at multiple stages, maximizing their influence. This early involvement and alignment also help ensure a smooth commissioning and handover of the facility.
• Engage the ORAT team in every step of the design and construction process for stakeholder engagement and favorable project outcomes.
QUALITY CONTROL PROGRAM:
• Establish a quality control program that includes offsite inspections and FATs (Factory Acceptance Testing) for prefabricated components.
• Collaborate with fabricators or construction managers to identify components that can be prefabricated offsite and to ensure the quality of those components.
By adhering to these best practices, airport ConRAC and parking garage projects can navigate the complexities of preconstruction, design, procurement, and construction phases effectively, ensuring successful outcomes and stakeholder satisfaction.
Click the image or scan QR code to view video of Columbus ConRAC project video.