Thanks to some innovative design work and fabrication by Blockaides, pedestrians at the revitalized FIGat7th parking garage in downtown Los Angeles are better protected from wayward vehicles. Brookfield Properties, the owner of the parking structure, needed to make some tenant improvements for the Target retail store that serves as an anchor for the Figat7th shopping center.

Since retail locations typically have a high amount of vehicle and pedestrian traffic in close proximity to the storefront, the parking structure could not accommodate Target’s high traffic. For the purposes of this case study, we will call this area the Vehicle Pedestrian Interaction Zone – VPIZ [1].

The interaction zone’s design plays a vital role in parking garage pedestrian safety. That’s why the well-respected Warren Vander Helm, managing partner of the Parking Design Group, and their client Brookfield Properties, contracted us to address their safety concerns. Our role involved designing solutions that would help to increase parking garage safety by focusing on two main areas:

• The pay-on-foot machines located on Level 8 (L8).
• The new Level 1 (L1) loading area.

BarricAide^™ Creates Safety Zone for Pedestrians at Level 8 (L8) Pay-On-Foot Machines

The expert team at Blockaides upgraded the pay station area by addressing these two issues:

• Parking garage pedestrian safety​: Pay station users’ safety was at risk since they had their backs to oncoming vehicles. Protecting them at this location was also critical because it safeguarded our client from considerable liabilities.
• Pay station safety: Brookfield Properties also wanted to protect the pay stations from damage in the event a vehicle runs into them. Solving this safety concern was also crucial in helping our client keep their repair and replacement costs low.

Parking garage bollards are often a common solution when improving pedestrian safety. In this case, however, it would have been challenging to rely solely on these devices because the current structure couldn’t support them.

Typically, bollards and other barriers get their strength and impact resistance from the concrete and rebar included in their footing. This strength and impact resistance directly affects the products’ protection ability.

To navigate this issue, Blockaides rose to the occasion, accepted the challenge and designed an innovative, patent-pending, newly designed product for Figat7th project called a BarricAide^™.

The BarricAide is a steel platform on which the machines sit. We erected steel bollards into the platform framework to offer robust protection. We engineered the BarricAide to absorb impact energies when hit and transfer them horizontally through the framework of the product and into the wall of the parking structure. This innovative solution provided the pedestrian and machine safety our client needed.

Enhancing Parking Garage Safety for the Loading Area

One of the safety constraints of the new Level 1 loading area is that it operates as the only Primary Vehicle Pedestrian Interaction Zone. It serves pedestrians walking into the building and as the loading zone for shoppers leaving Target and other stores.

To make designing safety solutions for this location even more challenging, the loading area is located in a more confined space within the parking structure. Generally, the loading zones for retail stores like Target are separated from the main entrance and located in a surface-level parking lot that has more space.

When addressing safety in this area, we had to balance safety, usability and traffic flow. Selecting the right solutions that increased safety without compromising the usability of the loading area or reducing the traffic flow of vehicles in and out of the space was a challenge. Ultimately, our solution involved installing signage, parking garage bollards and striping to define pedestrian and vehicle areas and provide safe paths of travel[2].

Our bollards layout considered that pedestrians traverse the loading area from the elevator bank and handicap parking areas for optimal results. We used crosshatch-patterned striping to indicate pedestrian crossings and alert drivers. Our experts also added different signage to direct pedestrians and vehicles.

Choose Blockaides for Reliable Safety Solutions

When you need innovative solutions to enhance sidewalk, outdoor patio or parking garage safety, choose the team at Blockaides. We work with architects, contractors and other professionals to develop effective solutions. Since 2010, we have improved safety and security for corporate buildings, storefronts, schools, airports and other industries. We’ll tailor our safety products to your environment to ensure pedestrian and asset safety.

Our experienced team manufactures various types of bollards, including fixed, automatic retractable and lighted. We also carry bollard accessories and different types of barriers. If you need to consult on improving safety in your use case, we’re here to help. We’ll conduct a risk assessment to identify areas of improvement.

To learn how we can help you achieve your safety and security goals, contact us online today.

References

• [1] Vehicle Pedestrian Interaction Zone (VPIZ): Area with frequent vehicle and pedestrian traffic in close proximity to one another.
• [2] Safe Path of Travel: A recognizable, accessible route within a building as defined by the California Building Code.