National Parking Association Announces 2014 Innovation Award Winners

Facilities, Companies, Individuals Recognized for Excellence, Innovation, and Best Practices in Parking

WASHINGTON -- Oct. 22, 2014: The National Parking Association (NPA) announced the winners of its 2014 Innovation Awards at the Annual Awards Luncheon on Tuesday, October 21.

"The NPA Innovation Awards recognize companies and individuals who demonstrate professionalism and parking best practices while using leadership and state-of-the-art technology to improve safety, sustainability and bottom line results," said Christine Banning, CAE, NPA president.

The winners were recognized at NPA's 63rd Annual Convention & Expo being held this week in Las Vegas, Nev. The 2014 NPA Innovation Award winners are:

NPA Innovator of the Year: Frank Ching, MBA, CPP, City Parking Administrator, City of Santa Monica – Parking Operations Through Frank Ching's leadership for seven years as city parking administrator for the city of Santa Monica, Calif., the Los Angeles-area municipality has experienced a series of parking successes driven by policy, technology and innovation.

"When I joined the city in 2007, the demand of the new century was there, but the parking technology was outdated," says Ching. "Rates hadn't been changed in 15 years and manned booths only accepted cash." Ching transformed the Santa Monica's parking operations into a modern, efficient and sustainable operation, which now generates annual revenues of more than $58 million and features the latest technology. His progressive management style was instrumental in finding the latest and most advanced technology to enhance and improve operations.

Frank Ching is most honored that his work "transformed the entire city from the last century to the current century." "With evolving operational challenges, it's critical to develop a forward-thinking parking philosophy to accommodate future demand."

Innovative Organization of the Year: City of Tampa, Parking—Public Safety Team

The parking leadership team for the city of Tampa, Fla. has successfully implemented changes in their 9 city-owned garages and 10 surface lots over the last 4 years to provide a safer and cleaner environment for municipal off-street parkers and personnel. The Public Safety Team is led by Dan Barion, CPP, OSHP, chief of security; Tom Szubka, CAPP, CPP, parking operations superintendent; and Jim Corbett, CAPP, parking division manager.

Their innovative efforts have reduced costs and advanced green initiatives through new lighting and use of electric GEM cars. In addition, they have improved safety through installation of security camera systems, escort programs, security vehicle lighting, upgraded radio systems and by working directly with the Tampa Police Department

While no single security implementation will reduce crime overnight, Barion, a former New York Police Department detective, notes that a "steady execution of proactive security upgrades can over time provide a safer parking experience and make Tampa's city-owned parking facilities favorable destinations."

Innovative Facility of the Year: City of Santa Monica Parking Structure #6

The city of Santa Monica's Parking Structure #6 opened in 2013 with 744 parking spaces on eight aboveground and three subterranean floors. Located in downtown Santa Monica, the design incorporates a dynamic facade with light-reflecting triangular panels crafted to direct natural light into the structure. The LEEDŽ Gold certified structure, designed by International Parking Design (IPD), also has 30 electric vehicle charging stations, 112 bicycle racks and farmers' market storage space.

IPD developed numerous plan layouts to explore various circulation and ramping systems, and to optimize the 80kW rooftop photovoltaic array. One of the critical features of the project was establishing ramping in a tight space, which includes 7,000 square feet of retail on the ground floor. "When customers enter the structure, they have the option of going up eight floors, or going down," says Shahin Azmoudeh, IPD vice president. "We implemented a single ramp system on the back of the garage to do that."

HUB Parking Technology further enhanced the customer experience by implementing a pay-on-foot system in the #6 garage, as well as the city's 13 additional structures. HUB Parking Technology worked to minimize payment at the exits in order to ease traffic flow. Additionally, credit card payments have increased to 70 percent, and are now faster due to the new equipment.

Innovative Sustainability Project of the Year: New Balance Field, University of Boston

Faced with mounting pressure for athletic and academic development on a land-locked campus, the planning sector at Boston University embarked on an innovative solution that would address multiple needs for the campus. Closely following LEEDŽ guidelines, DESMAN Associates worked with the Boston University team to develop the concept and design for New Balance Field, a multi-program, mixed-use facility.

An existing surface parking lot was transformed into a state-of-the-art, women's field hockey facility with a 350-space, two level, pre-cast concrete parking facility located beneath the turf field. "DESMAN replaced the much-needed surface parking lot and built a structure above it," says Norm Goldman, Principal, DESMAN Associates. "We had to relocate utilities and also set the entrances and exits, parking elevation and functions."

Completed in May 2013, the project's sustainable features include rain harvesting technology, drip irrigation, and a storm-water management. Through the use of precast construction, the design was able to address several aspects of the project, including long-span construction to aid the functionality of the parking component along with brick and limestone facade finishes that reflect the collegiate environment.