Wholly utilitarian in design, parking garages are by nature an aesthetic afterthought, behemoth stacks of concrete whose sole purpose is to offer maximum parking at minimal cost. Their vertical structure lends itself to urban environments (where the sprawling, open-air parking lots of suburbia are not physically possible), meaning that most city skylines are necessarily dotted with these visually domineering and unattractive blocks of gray. The word that most readily comes to mind: eyesore.

Fortunately for parking garages (and for those of us who use them), adding creative interventions and public art to their design can transform an unremarkable, functional space into a local landmark. These activations span from simple visual wayfinders, like color-coded elements to aid with navigation, to extraordinary architectural additions, like those featured in the Miami Design District Museum Garage, where architect and curator Terence Riley brought in designers from around the world for an architectural game of “Exquisite Corpse.” The result is an eye-catching structure whose various unconnected components come together into a playful and colorful whole.

SouthSide Works Mural by Alison Zapata, photo: Hannah Colen

While not every parking garage can commit to that kind of design investment, developers can integrate memorable public art on a smaller scale. Public murals, for example, are a great way to activate the local community and contribute to the arts economy. TASC partnered with SouthSide Works to commission a 9,600 sq.ft. mural for the side of a 7-story parking garage attached to a riverfront development. With inspiration provided by the developer, Pittsburgh-based artist Alison Zapata designed the mural, which was executed by local commercial painting company, Bella’s Army. The result is a vibrant, large-scale design that enhances both the development and the riverfront, adding a welcomed splash of color to the skyline.

Murals can also serve a functional purpose—acting as visual wayfinders that make parking structures welcoming, accessible, and easy to navigate. In 2022 The Andy Warhol Museum launched The Pop District, a physical and programmatic extension of the museum. As part of an ongoing collaboration, TASC helped to facilitate a series of public art pieces, including the parking garage’s interior. Each floor features one key Andy Warhol image paired with a bold color choice, encouraging easy wayfinding throughout. Every detail—from stairwell signage and elevator banks to the elevator buttons—was thoughtfully designed and installed to create a cohesive, visually engaging experience for visitors.

In addition to its aesthetic and navigational aspects, integrating art elements deters vandalism, as artistically adorned surfaces are statistically less likely to be vandalized or tagged. “Careful design and upkeep play a role in maintaining a sense that a space is open and cared for,” reports the Urban Institute. This is all the more important in parking structures, which, by nature of their self-service operation, risk exuding a sense of neglect and disregard. In this way, public art increases the perception of safety and care in otherwise deserted public spaces.

Investing in creative place-making illustrates a commitment to community, safety, and the local economy. A parking garage may be a utilitarian structure, but the addition of an accessible, locally-produced work of art can elevate a dull space and foster a sense of civic pride.

Resources

https://parking-mobility-magazine.org/august-2024/the-impacts-of-public-art/

https://housingmatters.urban.org/articles/how-public-art-can-improve-quality-life-and-advance-equity

https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/99037/synthesis_-_creative_placemaking.pdf