CASE STUDY: 500 WALNUT, PHILADELPHIA

Shown is the transfer area at the 500 Walnut ultra-luxury residential tower, where the vehicles will be automatically moved to a safe and secured area (left). The APS is considered a luxury amenity for the development (right).

The 500 Walnut ultra-luxury development is situated just steps from Philadelphia’s Independence National Historical Park. One of its most prized amenities is an 86-space APS located in the building’s basement. Other amenities include a 50-foot lap pool, a spacious fitness center and spa, a billiard room, a 4,000-square-foot open-air terrace overlooking Independence Hall, and a boardroom with a fully equipped catering kitchen.

The developer, Scannapieco Development Corp. (SDC), is no stranger to APSs and installed one in its previous development at 1706 Rittenhouse Square. For 500 Walnut, SDC wanted its APS vendor to be able to provide full support services such as 24/7 remote support and be on-site within a very short time frame should the need arise. SDC also wanted a provider with a solid track record in delivering automated systems.

The parking system vendor worked closely with SDC and the project architect, Cecil Baker + Partners, to ensure the parking system efficiently integrated with the building structure and maintained the ultra-luxury aesthetics where the residents interacted with the parking system in the two transfer areas located next to the main lobby.

Opened in early 2018, 500 Walnut was the first project in the United States to utilize the vendor’s new palletless parking system that collects vehicles directly from the two basement levels, allowing a high throughput when compared with pallet-based parking systems.

Watch a video of the operation here.

Who Operates an APS?

After a driver arrives at the APS, he or she scans a fob or takes a ticket from a machine, which allows for entry into the transfer area. The driver exits the car and transfer area, then scans the fob/ticket at a kiosk/pay station, or uses an app for the transaction.

After all questions on the kiosk or app are answered to ensure that the car is ready to be stored, the user is free to proceed on foot to a residence, office, shopping area, or other destination. Meanwhile, inside the system, the car is lowered or raised by a vehicle lift to the storage level. A proprietary satellite technology positions the vehicle onto a transfer car, which takes it to its parking spot.

When the driver returns to the garage to retrieve the car, he or she scans the fob/ticket at the kiosk/pay station or uses an app and waits for the vehicle lift to retrieve the car and return it to the transfer area. The driver can then enter the car and drive out of the parking facility.

For day to day operations, no system personnel are needed on site to operate the APS.

Safety and Security

Concerns about personal safety, theft, vehicle vandalism, and vehicle damage are common with users of conventional parking garages. Navigating through a busy parking garage or parking lot is fraught with danger to both the vehicle and the driver walking to and from the vehicle. At night, these dangers increase.

Automated parking eliminates these hazards. Without the need to navigate through a garage to find a parking spot, the risk of an accident is eliminated. The inside of an automated parking facility is inaccessible to the public, so the vehicle itself is safe and secure from outside dangers while it is being stored. By eliminating the dangers associated with conventional parking garages, the parking experience becomes essentially worry free.

What Features are Built in For Reliability and Redundancy?

Some developers and designers considering an APS wonder: How reliable are these systems, and what happens when there is a power outage or other challenge?

A well-designed, properly installed, and correctly serviced APS should have a system availability of more than 99 percent, which is a function of both minimizing downtime and high reliability.

A system’s downtime can be minimized through:

• Automated fault recognition;
• Automated fault location identification;
• Simple fault diagnosis;
• Availability of spare parts; and
• Properly trained and qualified service personnel.

The first three points above can be achieved through a vendor’s high-quality operating and machine-control software that ideally would have been developed by experienced industrial automation programmers who understand the extra steps necessary to write the code that makes the recovery from faults as quick as possible. The latter two points can be achieved 1) by the vendor utilizing commercially available off-the-shelf parts that are readily available in most locations (rather than specialty items that are difficult to find or items that can only be purchased from the vendor), and 2) by the vendor having its own spare parts and service organization that is properly staffed and trained, and can develop critical and recommended spare-parts lists.

High system reliability can be achieved through:

• Use of high-quality materials;
• Proven designs;
• High-quality manufacturing and installation;
• Properly trained operators; and
• Correct implementation of a preventive maintenance plan.

The use of high-quality materials is obviously going to provide higher reliability than low-quality materials, but these inevitably come at a higher cost. It is simply not possible to provide a highly reliable system at a low cost. Vendors can reduce the capital cost of their systems by choosing to use low-quality materials or components, but this will likely lead to much higher lifetime costs for the customer due to replacing these low-quality components more frequently or an unreliable system. There are several examples of lower-cost APSs being replaced or overhauled a few years after installation due to the unreliability of the “low-cost” system. As the adage goes: buy cheap, buy twice.

Using proven designs increases reliability simply because the system design is based on tried and tested technology that has worked reliably before. Utilizing groundbreaking, state-of-the-art technology can seem appealing, exciting, or cutting edge to some. However, implementing too many unproven designs within an APS can have catastrophic implications on the system itself and the success of the whole development.

The most well-designed, highest-quality APSs still require properly trained and qualified operators to improve reliability and minimize downtime. This is one element where a building operator can make a huge difference in the reliable operation of an APS. Even though an APS typically requires no human intervention to operate, no automated system or machine is completely fault free. Having properly trained operators on-site to quickly deal with issues that arise and liaise with service personnel if required is essential to a system’s reliable operation. In most instances, the smooth operation of a high-quality APS is interrupted by user faults rather than system faults. Typical user faults may be forgetting to complete the parking process and walking away, losing a key fob or ticket, or simply not following instructions. All of these can easily be resolved by professionally trained, courteous operators or building concierges.

According to Tom Scannapieco, president of Scannapieco Development Corporation, which targets the ultra-high-end residential market, redundancy built into the system at 500 Walnut Street project in Philadelphia was extremely important.

“The advantage with the system is that I have two independent shuttles (t-cars)—one on each level,” Scannapieco says. “So if one becomes inoperative, the one from the other level can be transferred and run in place of the inoperative one. This level of redundancy we found very attractive.”

The most well-designed, highest-quality APSs also require the correct implementation of a preventive maintenance plan to function reliably. If a vendor has its own design engineers and service personnel, these teams can work together to develop a preventive maintenance plan that will maximize reliability based upon intimate knowledge of the system designs and previous projects’ fault logs and service histories.

System Longevity and Maintenance

If properly maintained, an APS can have a lifespan from 20 to even more than 30 years. The lifespan for automated parking technology is greatly increased by quarterly maintenance checks on the system. For instance, APSs in Copenhagen, which house more than 800 vehicles, are still running smoothly after 10 years, allowing the people of Copenhagen to park worry free and enjoy more leisure space in their capital city.

Typical recommendations are for preventative maintenance to be performed two to four times per year. This should include:

• General inspection of the APS;
• Review of all safety and operational features;
• Examination of major components;
• Replacement of damaged or worn parts; and
• Lubrication of system components.

Depending on the company, several maintenance packages may be available:

1. In the most comprehensive and worry-free package, the APS vendor maintains the system, including corrective and preventative maintenance as well as software support, upgrades, and spare-parts replacement.
2. At the next level, preventative maintenance may be arranged by an annual agreement for planned preventative maintenance, labor, and travel cost. This package is customized to a user’s needs.
3. The final level may be thought of as “pay as you go.” In this case, the client pays only for the maintenance that is needed, when it is needed.

When Can Users Charge EVs within at APS?

Increasingly in building codes, charging stations for EVs are mandatory, with minimum requirements for the number of EV charging spots that need to be provided, with California leading the way.

Therefore, questions arise concerning the process for charging EVs within an APS where the user does not drive the vehicle around looking for a charging port. How do EVs get charged in the modern scenario of an APS?

Each automated parking company has developed its own solution to the opportunity of charging EVs during a parking session. Here is how EV charging works in a leading APS manufacturer’s system:

Shown is an overall EV charging gantry concept.

Step 1

Upon a user reaching the APS, an outer door opens automatically by identifying the vehicle via a transponder, ticket machine, or other device. After the user drives through the outer door, the APS selects an available transfer area and directs the user to that area using traffic lights or similar devices. Upon entering the transfer area, the driver positions the vehicle by following the directions and the prompts on a display screen. As the vehicle enters, its dimensions are checked, recorded, and verified by the system.

Step 2

Upon exiting the vehicle, the user plugs a charging adapter into the vehicle charging port.

The charging system’s connector will attach to this adapter later on in the automated parking process. Just outside the transfer area is a user interface screen where the user answers questions, including verification that all living things are removed from the vehicle and the parking brake is engaged. In the case of an EV, the questions include the current charge state of the vehicle in terms of miles, the requested range at retrieval, and the expected time and date of retrieval.

Step 3

After all questions are answered properly, the door to the transfer area closes and the user exits the area. The system now proceeds with transferring the vehicle to the parking area. An EV is either taken directly to an EV charging storage location for immediate charging, or it is taken to a standard storage location and then moved to an EV charging location at the appropriate time. The designated charging area(s) have a single overhead gantry that can access several EV charging storage locations.

For developers focused on the bottom line, the gantry system uses one charger (also referred to as electric vehicle supply equipment, or EVSE) for a number of EVs rather than investing in one EVSE for every EV. More gantries can be added over time as the demand for EV charging increases.

The entire process of which an EV is charged, for how long, and when is entirely managed by the PCS.

“As we normally control all the movements of the vehicles in the APS, it is pretty simple for us to integrate the EV charging functionality with the PCS so that we manage all of the EV charging requirements without requiring an EVSE for every EV,” says Ian Todd, EVP of Automated Parking Systems at Westfalia Technologies, a leading vendor of APSs. “We think this will be a great benefit to developers by reducing their capital costs for a project.”

A smart phone app can be used for vehicle retrieval.

How Long Does It Take to Retrieve a Vehicle?

One of the most-asked questions about automated parking revolves around how long it takes to get a vehicle back once it is parked in the system.

For a system utilizing t-cars and satellites, sometimes referred to as a rack and rail system, the speed or throughput of the systems depends on a number of factors, including:

• The number of transfer areas;
• The number of lifts;
• The number of transfer cars (t-cars);
• The lift type used in the system (EOA or SOA);
• The speed of individual components;
• The efficiency of the control system;
• The speed of the transfer area doors; and
• Whether the lifts are within transfer areas or separated.

Depending on the layout of a structure, storage of a vehicle can take as little as 1 minute. Regarding retrieving a vehicle, machine time takes anywhere from 90 seconds and upward. The position of the car within the garage and the expected wait time for retrieval are noted on the kiosk screen or within the APS app, so users will not be left wondering where their vehicle is located. A typical retrieval time is 2–3 minutes depending on factors such as the number of users calling their vehicles, system components and layout, etc.

Why Should a Developer Consider an APS?

An APS not only provides a safer environment for users or drivers, but it also allows developers to save money through reduced operating, construction, and land costs, as well as provide added value through the increased space savings.

In search of space and land-saving parking solutions, developers are increasingly turning to APSs because these systems are often proven to reduce land, construction, and operational costs. In addition to public parking garages, APSs can be found in any type of real estate development, such as malls, offices, hotels, airports and residential developments, including mixed-use properties combining commercial and residential use. Although cost is often the most important factor for investors, city planners and municipalities are tasked with improving the ever-growing parking problem in a sustainable way for their residents. For example, Copenhagen in Denmark is aiming to becoming the first city in the world to be CO₂-neutral by 2025 and has been using automated parking for more than a decade to vastly reduce emissions and energy consumption. In fact, when looking for a space-efficient, cost-saving, and low-emission parking solution, an APS is the way to go.

Where APSs can be Built

APSs can be built virtually anywhere. This includes above ground, where the system is aesthetically integrated into the building architecture, or underground, to accommodate the parking solution as discreetly as possible. Some vendors have special solutions that are optimally suited for infill developments so that small parcels of land can be used to maximize parking space.

Any construction project may encounter some legal or zoning restrictions, such as height restrictions or depth restrictions due to tunnels, ground water levels, difficult ground conditions, etc., but this could also be an opportunity to use an APS because of the ability to fit up to 60 percent more parking spaces in an APS compared to a conventional parking garage. Hence, meeting or even exceeding parking requirements despite these possible restrictions is made possible with the use of an APS.

The APS at the Conrad Hotel and Office Tower in Dubai provides 1,053 parking spaces on 12 levels with eight entry transfer areas, eight exit transfer areas, 22 transfer cars, and eight vertical lifts.

The Cost of APSs versus Conventional Parking

Comparing the cost of an APS with a conventional parking lot or parking garage is not an apples-to-apples comparison. It is a mistake to calculate the cost of automated parking merely on cost per parking space, as there are numerous savings to be had with an APS. With less land area needed to build the garage, a developer may save half of the excavation costs. This space saved will allow a developer to increase the earning potential by using the area for more hotel rooms or condos, for example. More money will be saved on lighting and ventilation because of the reduced regulations and requirements for those inside the system. When evaluating the investment in automated parking, first assess the value of the added real estate and other savings to the business. Often, installing this type of system is actually a net gain for a company.

In the case of the Lansdale project in Pennsylvania, architect Mike Rosen estimates that the cost of a parking space was reduced from approximately $20,000 to $30,000 per parking spot for conventional or structured parking to roughly $8,000 per parking spot using the APS. Factored into that accounting is a level of subterranean parking that was eliminated and the addition of more units. Each project is unique, and only through analysis and consultation with an APS vendor will potential savings be quantified.

Environmental Benefits of APSs

Automated parking is often a more sustainable option than conventional parking. Everyone knows the struggle of trying to find a parking spot in a typical parking garage and, in this scenario, the car engine is continuously running until a spot is found, putting off toxic fumes. These fumes are not good for the environment, nor are they good for humans to breathe in while parking cars, walking through the parking area, and retrieving cars. Automated parking cuts down on wasted driving time and, as a result, wasted emissions.

One unique feature of an APS is the lights-out environment. There is no lighting required within the system since it is completely operated by machines. The only places that light is needed are the transfer areas and the waiting areas or lobby where the users wait for their vehicle and access the transfer areas.

In a standard parking garage, there are specific ventilation requirements due to the amount of human traffic passing through the system. Automated parking garages have much lower ventilation requirements, typically needing only two air changes per hour. Therefore, companies spend less electricity to operate an automated garage.

In some cases, automated parking garages are built completely underground. What is left is more land for “green” spaces such as parks and playgrounds right on top of the APS. This is especially important in densely populated areas to help preserve the environment.

When to start discussions with a vendor?

Automated parking is still a very young market in the Unites States, but it is a rapidly expanding one, and numerous companies have recently entered into this field. Finding a quality vendor with a proven track record is extremely important. Developer Tom Scannapieco, who has been quite satisfied with the parking system in his luxury Philadelphia project, explains why:

“The (APS) team was great to work with because I felt like I was working with programmers and engineers rather than salespeople,” Scannapieco says. “I felt like I was working with people who really understood the system. They had the expertise to have a really in-depth discussion.”

The level of professionalism Scannapieco notes in the APS company was important for him. “Through my interviews and discussions with them, I came to the conclusion that this was a company that was very service oriented,” he says. “They have experience in the automated delivery of products for fortune 500 companies, and I know those production lines cannot stop. So I know that culturally they are prepared to keep a system running.”

To find a capable APS vendor, it would be advisable to look for companies with decades of experience in the field of logistics automation. Storing and retrieving a vehicle poses little challenge to providers who have a wealth of experience in reliably handling boxes, pallets, paper rolls, and other goods weighing several tons. These companies have enhanced their product portfolio by adapting their tried-and-tested technologies in handling goods and applying them to automated parking.

Discussing Capacity Planning with an APS Supplier

When is the right time to start the discussion about an APS? The short answer is: Now! If a building structure is designed or built before discussions with an APS supplier, it becomes much more difficult to go back and implement automated parking. Depending on the layout, the planning and actual implementation of an APS can take anywhere from 12 to 18 months. For a structure to be properly designed, discussions with an APS supplier should occur as soon in the conceptual process as possible. In many cases, the layout of the automated parking will inform the layout and design of the building.

The Planning and Implementation Period

After determining the preferred parking system design, implementation is the next step, which typically takes between 12 to 18 months. Close integration between the developer/architect and the APS provider team assures smooth project handling throughout manufacturing, installation, and commissioning.

All parking systems equipment should be tested at the manufacturing facility before delivery. This ensures that the equipment is manufactured and wired correctly, which results in reduced commissioning time on-site. After the in-house test is completed, computers and related equipment are shipped to the automated parking garage site where final on-site testing and training is conducted.

CASE STUDY: MAXIMIZING ROI IN A HISTORIC CITY WITH AUTOMATED PARKING

A government-owned, on-grade parking lot was taking up valuable real estate on the main shopping street of a historic US city. The municipality agreed to sell this parking lot, together with a nearby 2nd lot, if the purchaser of the two lots replaced all the existing parking spots, and, provided adequate parking for whatever was developed on the two lots.

The developer that was successful in purchasing the lots chose to maximize his ROI by utilizing the space saving benefits of an automated parking system (APS), which the city was very excited about. The developer is planning to build retail and residential units on all the available land of the 1st parking lot located on the main shopping and restaurant street and on the 2nd, smaller lot, is building more retail and residential units and an APS that fits 142 parking spaces. The 142 parking spaces in the APS, which are over six parking levels and on just over 6,600 square feet of land, replace all the parking spots of the original on-grade lots and provides all the parking required for the retail and residential units.

The APS will be built first so all the existing parking spaces on the two lots can be stored in the APS allowing the developer to build the retail and residential units on the vacant land. The APS should be completed in 2023.

Conclusion

APSs are a game changer for developers and cities crowded with cars that need to park. Automated parking is an aesthetically pleasing parking method that creates a stress-free and seamless user experience. The stress of driving around looking for a parking spot is eliminated, as are the exhaust fumes emitted. For developers, the benefits of “robotic” car parking are even more pronounced. The space needed for a structure with finely tuned machinery and sophisticated software to move and store cars is about 60 percent less than the space needed for self-parking. No space is needed for people walking around the parking area. No lights are needed. No security guards are needed. The extra space gained from specifying a compact parking solution can then be used for other profitable buildings or assets. Comparing the simple costs of an APS with a conventional parking garage is misleading. Considering the long-term benefits from automated parking, it is more than possible to create a positive ROI for the developer. Add to that the user experience and the “cool factor” of automated parking, and this modern technology is certainly something to consider at the beginning of any design and build project.

Architect Mike Rosen is considering automated parking for more projects. “In my line of work, and playing in the arena that I play in, we are constantly dealing with cutting-edge technologies that test the mettle of some of the clients,” he says. “I am bullish on automated parking. I would recommend it highly and have made the argument to many developers and clients as to the benefits it presents. Overall, I think it is an extremely useful and viable approach to minimizing the impact of the automobile on the building.”

End Notes

¹“Guide: Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Requirements in CALGreen Building Code – Developers, Property Owners, and Property Managers.” City of Sacramento. Web. 9 December 2020.