LEED Certified Parking Structure: A Model for Sustainability

Generally speaking,  the LEED certification system frowns on automobile transportation.  But, this suburban Detroit Blue Cross Blue Shield parking structure is an interesting solution to what is, in many cases, a necessary evil.

The largest contributing factors in this project are in the MR division.  Pre-cast concrete, a high percentage of regional materials and other recycled products greatly helped with LEED certification.  Additionally, the SS division credits were boosted by a high-density building and site reuse.  The owners were able to put more than 1000 parking spaces in the footprint of what was 125 spaces previously.

What’s most notable to me is that this building serves as an excellent model for future parking structure development in both the urban and suburban environment.  Parking structures will continue to be built and necessary in the foreseeable future - a commitment to responsibly addressing their design is a remarkable step forward.

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