
Shopping center owners are more aware of the need to build durability into the parking facility to minimize long-term maintenance costs. The structural system is 60 to 70% of the parking facility cost and it is important to protect this investment. Use of engineered concrete, protective sealers, caulking, epoxy coated reinforcing, increased concrete cover, concrete additives (microsilica, corrosion inhibitors, etc.) have improved the durability of concrete.Īs malls have high traffic volume, it is expensive and problematic to close down parking areas for repair.

Parking facilities are exposed to significant environmental stresses such as road salts, moving vehicle loads, significant thermal stresses, sun, wind, snow and rain. Design Features for Malls :įlat floors are desirable for several reasons, including: Security escorts for late hour users are often provided. Open microphones, emergency call stations and CCTV surveillance cameras are all active security enhancements. Increased ceiling heights up to nine feet or higher will give the user a perception of openness and can accommodate oversized vehicles. First, it is desirable to build an open, visible, well-lit structure. Minimizing walking distances, eliminating hiding places, increasing lighting levels, providing good colour rendition (mercury vapour, metal halide), good lighting uniformity, use of surveillance cameras, security patrols and increasing ceiling heights are all important. It is critical that mall patrons feel safe when they are in the parking facility. Providing elevated pedestrian walkways crossing over mall ring roads to upper levels of the mall reduces the pedestrian crossing conflict. Typically, mall ring roads circulate between the mall and parking area. The parking area will then fill from the front towards the back. One way to accomplish this is for cars to enter the parking facility from the back of the parking area. It is important to minimize pedestrians crossing roadways. It is important to eliminate or minimize pedestrian-vehicular conflict. Mixing vehicles and pedestrians is a safety issue. The larger the mall, the more likely the patron will spend more time in the complex shopping, eating and exercising, and it becomes more important to develop cues for remembering the parking location. Colour, alphanumeric and music themes provide cues for mall patrons to remember where they parked.
#Shopping mall project management charter driver
Signs with contrasting colours, readable lettering and proper location will direct the driver and pedestrian. Clear, visible, simple signage and graphics to direct the driver and pedestrian to their destination are essential. Express ramps to quickly bring the driver to his parking destination are important. A simple, easily understood parking design with flat floors is recommended. This starts with clear, simple access to the mall.


It is important for the user to easily find his destination, be it shopping, movies, restaurants or a specific store. Shopping centers are becoming larger and more complex.
