Stand-Alone Structured Parking Facility Design
South Gondola Lot Parking Structure Breckenridge, Colorado AWARDED TO: Walker Consultants OWNING AGENCY: Town of Breckenridge, Colorado ENGINEER: Walker Consultants ARCHITECT: Koch Covotsos Architects GENERAL CONTRACTOR: Hyder Construction
Juror Comment: “The South Gondola garage is a great example of how to combine natural design elements within a community, along with sustainable features that will make this award winner shine for years to come.”
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he past, present, and future coalesce sublimely in this distinctive facility situated on 6.43 acres just off of Main Street in the Breckenridge National Historic District. Set against a stunning backdrop of the picturesque Rocky Mountains’ Tenmile Range, the new South Gondola lot parking structure has been a major boon to improved traffic circulation in this ski destination that attracts tourists year-round. Although its permanent population is less than 5,000, Breckenridge attracts close to three million visitors a year. That’s a lot of cars, and convenient, ample parking is critical to serving resident and visitor needs. The story began in 2017, when a parking structure was being considered for a town-owned lot but did not move forward because the location was not as appealing as the South Gondola lot, which is owned by Vail Resorts. In spring 2019 Town Council selected the team led by Walker Consultants to design the new parking structure for that site and passed an ordinance that allowed the town to enter into a 50-year ground lease with the owner to use the property for the $38.25 million facility, which comprises structured and surface parking. The design program was developed in response to multiple goals, including capacity, functionality, sustainability, aesthetics, and user amenities—and the South Gondola lot parking structure has achieved them all. Aiming to decrease local traffic and accommodate drivers seeking parking during peak ski season, the public facility provides 716 parking spaces within a fourlevel, 249,984-square-foot structure and 243 spaces on
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PARKING & MOBILITY / JUNE 2022 / PARKING-MOBILITY.ORG