Design commission recommends AUS West Garage to council with added sustainability conditions

The City Design Commission voted to recommend to City Council that the AUS West Garage project at 2921 1/2 Presidential Boulevard comply with the city’s design and sustainability standards, while adding specific conditions to strengthen its sustainability and pedestrian access.

The recommendation follows a presentation from project staff and consultants describing a seven‑story concrete parking garage with 7,037 spaces, a stacked speed‑ramp system, a pedestrian bridge tying the new structure to the adjacent Blue Garage and various ParkSmart sustainability measures. "The West garage will replace the existing red garage," project manager Marie Boren said during the presentation, explaining the garage is required to clear space for terminal expansion.

The commission’s amended motion asks the project team and City Council to pursue a solar array or solar‑ready roof structure; to explore water‑retention opportunities tied to the site’s landscape strategy; to plan for increased EV capacity and electrical infrastructure even if chargers are staged; to increase vegetation, including consideration of vertical greening; and to improve intuitive, safe pedestrian paths between the garage, the Blue Garage and the terminal.

Why it matters: the project is an enabling element of the airport expansion program and will remove a surface lot currently used for parking. The commission’s conditions aim to align a large public project with the city’s broader climate and pedestrian‑safety goals while preserving the airport’s operational needs.

Key details from the presentation and commission discussion: - Size and schedule: Project consultants said the garage will yield 7,037 spaces. The first 3,000 spaces were described as expected to be completed by mid‑2026, with the team aiming to finish the overall project in a later phase. The design uses cast‑in‑place concrete and will be fully sprinklered per code changes noted in the presentation. - Sustainability targets: The team said the garage seeks ParkSmart certification for parking facilities (the U.S. Green Building Council now administers ParkSmart). Project staff described specifications requiring concrete suppliers to demonstrate lower embodied carbon via environmental product declarations and said the roof will be solar‑ready with stub columns for future solar canopy canopies. - EV charging: The project team said the executive team directed 16 chargers for day‑one installation; consultants and commissioners argued that the electrical rooms and transformer capacity should be sized so the campus can add many more chargers later. Commissioners pressed the team to install electrical infrastructure to make adding chargers less expensive later. - Pedestrian connections and safety: Presenters described a third‑floor pedestrian bridge between the new garage and the Blue Garage that will remove vehicle conflicts once the AD Hall bridge is in place. Commissioners pressed the team for clearer at‑grade pedestrian crossings, better wayfinding and short‑term crosswalk improvements because many users will continue to travel at ground level. - Landscaping: The design team described an extended landscape spine, widened sidewalks and tree planting along the north and east edges. Commissioners urged more green coverage and asked the team to study vertical planting and green roofs for future phases.

Discussion vs. decision: Commissioners spent substantial time asking how design choices would affect heat‑island effect, pedestrian safety and future adaptability for EVs and solar. The commission’s recommendation is not a building permit or council action; it is staff and commission guidance intended to inform the city council as it considers the project.

What’s next: Commission staff said the recommendation will be posted and sent to City Council. The project team said it will continue coordination on the building permit, electrical capacity for future chargers and ParkSmart documentation.

Ending: Commissioners praised the project team for design progress and expedited permitting while urging stronger commitments on EV infrastructure, more landscape/greening strategies and specific, near‑term pedestrian safety improvements around the garage and adjacent roadways.