Shopping Center Parking Space Design
Shopping Center Parking Lot Design; Parking Space Design
At C&C Site Development we understand the needs of the shopping center developer, efficiency and cost effectiveness. One of the most important facilities of a shopping center is the parking facilities. This 4 part series concentrates on shopping center parking lot design and how to best serve both the developer and the eventual customers of the shopping center, efficiently and cost effectively.
Shopping Center Parking Space Design; Efficient Use of Space Available:
Shopping Center Parking space Design can be the prime convenience advantage of the shopping center over the central business district. In spite of the repetitive statement of this fact, the shopper may not always find the parking space he wants.
The shopper wants a space he can find easily, with a minimum of difficulty in moving around the parking area, and one that is located near the store or store group in which he is going to shop.
The fault is sometimes with the developers who have underestimated the need for parking space or found the land too valuable to be devoted to parking. Sometimes there are too few parking spaces simply because there are too many people with cars looking for them.
Parking in the shopping center is seen by the shopper as a series of steps:
- Maneuvering the car around the lot until he finds a space;
- Getting the car into the space;
- Walking from the space to the stores.
Leaving the center, the shopper must go through approximately the same steps in reverse, including finding his car which occasionally seems more difficult than it was to find the space originally.
Finding the space:
Whether the customer finds a space at all depends on the amount of parking space originally provided. The key factors in moving cars around the parking lot are the lay-out and width of the aisles between the rows of parked cars, especially near the most attractive stores, the department store(s), the supermarket(s), and the drug store(s).
How wide the aisles should be depends mostly on whether the aisles will be one-way or two-way. If the customers park their own cars, as happens at nearly all shopping centers, then the aisles should not be so narrow as to make the task difficult, nor so narrow that one car being parked will temporarily tie up traffic in the aisle. For one way aisles, width should be at least 10 feet; for two way aisles, about 20 feet.
Getting the car into the space:
Basically, we are assuming that most shopping center parking lot design site plans are laid out pretty much in the same way. For instance, the spaces and the aisles may be laid out this way:
The narrower aisles (a) are the pedestrian walkways sometimes provided, and the wider aisle (b) between rows of spaces is the aisle for maneuvering the cars. The lay-out may be varied for several types of angle parking, thus:
The total parking lot area per car space (including aisles) affects the customer in terms of his difficulty or lack of difficulty in getting into a parking space. Not more than 200 square feet need be devoted to the space itself. Most regulations require a space 9 by 18 feet, and one 10 by 20 feet should be ample in any situation.
The rest of the area (150 square feet per car) will be used up in aisles, exits and entrances, and landscaping. No land will be saved by making spaces less than 9 feet wide. Since cars are about 7 feet wide, a smaller space will encourage straddling the dividing lines, and the result will be even fewer usable spaces than if they were 9- or 10-feet wide.
C&C Site Development has handled countless shopping center site development projects in the Central Florida and Greater Florida area. Unique challenges can come up in the shopping center parking lot design process.
Whether it is land clearance, demolition of existing structures, parking lot coverings, curbs, access roads or infrastructure, C&C Site Development is Florida’s go to firm for results. Put your projects site development needs in our hands and be assured the job will be done, efficiently and in a cost effective manner.
For Solutions Call (407) 688-2657
C&C Site Development is ready to assist you today.
- We offer experience and leadership through consulting services for all phases of construction enhancing efficiency and ultimately profitability.
- Our responsible bidding practices along with our efficient and professional administrative services are proven to get projects launched and completed successfully with continued support.
- Our systems and philosophies are on the leading edge of the industry standards and the goals we set using proven tactics enhance projects and their profitability.
Contact C&C Site Development today to schedule a consultation.
For Solutions Call (407) 688-2657
