New Parking Garage at Gerald R. Ford International Airport

The cast-in-place post ten-sioned concrete structure will encompass four levels and accommodate 5,000 vehicles. It is designed to make airport parking as easy and convenient as possible for the thousands of people who will use it every day, with such features as a circular helix for easy vehicular access, two pedestrian bridges at the 2nd level, rental car counters at ground level in the garage, and a "Welcome Wall" in the middle of the garage with general interest information, maps, accommodations, and history about the Grand Rapids area.

To help protect both people and vehicles from the weather, a large canopy spans between the garage and the terminal and the top is covered by a roof. Architectural features include glass and terra cotta accents on the building's facade. Carl Walker, Inc. is performing a number of functions on this project, including structural design, signage consulting, and design of electronic car-count and parking and revenue control systems.

Owned and operated by the Kent County Department of Aeronautics, the $74 million garage is scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2009.

About Carl Walker, Inc.

Offering creative and practical solutions in Parking Structure Planning and Design, Studies and Operations Consulting and Restoration Engineering through ten offices nationwide, Carl Walker, Inc. is recognized as one of the most respected and experienced companies in the parking industry. The company has completed over 4,000 parking projects of every scope for universities, governments/ municipalities, hospitals, airports, entertainment facilities, architects, developers, contractors and parking operators.