Summa Health wanted the existing parking garage on their Akron campus to be more attractive to visitors, but it also had functional requirements. For the benefit of other campus buildings across the street, views into and light out of the parking garage needed to be screened. It was also important to limit visibility out of the parking garage into patient rooms without resorting to a completely opaque solution. We were brought into the project to provide engineering services and determine the best approach for the structure and layout of the garage. We worked directly with Summa Health to develop a cladding with steel solution that features art provided by the hospital. The 34% openness meets the code requirements and provides an optimal balance between screening and open spaces to maintain ventilation. The panels are canted toward the street, allowing for increased visibility as visitors approach the garage.
