PCL Construction continues partnership with RTD on new Thornton parking garage
As part of the Regional Transportation District’s FasTracks program, PCL Construction Services Inc. has begun construction of a new parking garage at the Thornton Crossroads-104th Station on the North Metro Rail Line. The 18.5-mile commuter rail line will run from Denver Union Station through Commerce City, Northglenn and Thornton. This expanded commuter radius has in turn necessitated an expansion of commuter capacity. This garage will be the second collaborative project for PCL, Iron Horse Architects and Regional Rail Partners and upon completion will drastically upgrade the high-traffic station.
“Parking structures are popping up more and more within the cities with high traffic areas. The cities and developers are trying to design these parking structures so that they are seen more as a one-stop location instead of a hindrance taking up real estate,” said Ryan Schmidt, PCL’s Denver District operations manager. “We are excited to continue our relationship with Regional Rail Partners, Iron Horse Architects and RTD with the construction of 104th Avenue Station Garage.”
The new six-story cast-in-place, post-tensioned parking garage will hold 823 stalls and include two vehicle entrances, one located on the northern end of the garage and one on the southern end. The main entrance off the station plaza houses two elevators and the main stairway. Additionally, the garage includes three stairwells with glass enclosures to let in ample natural light. Other features include colored concrete exterior walls, mesh screening panels at the lower levels and metal panels on the exterior.
The garage will enhance the surrounding community by minimizing the right-of-way impacts to neighboring businesses and residential homes.
“With traffic increasing throughout the metro area, pressing as far north as Westminster, the cities are trying to proactively build structures that support the growing community using the mass transit system,” said Schmidt.
Published in the July 2018 issue of Development, Construction & Design in CREJ.
