BWI/MARC Parking Garage Expansion
Linthicum, MD
HSMM was the design partner in a design-build contract for the State of Maryland Mass Transit Authority (MTA). MTA selected HSMM and Coakley & Williams Construction to complete a design-build project for the BWI/MARC parking garage expansion. In order to accommodate expanded rail service along the northeast corridor, and to supplement parking at Baltimore-Washington International Airport, the MTA required additional parking spaces at the BWI Amtrak Station.
The project included new construction, expansion of the existing garage, and additional features including a bus bay between the two facilities. The new garage is a seven-level, 1,350-space parking structure constructed within the limits of an existing surface parking lot.
The parking structure has a post-tensioned concrete structural system with pre-cast concrete spandrel panels, an auger cast concrete pile-supported foundation system, and three traction elevators. The garage includes an equipment storage area and an employee parking area on the lower level.
The project also included the expansion of the existing 5-level, 1,250-space parking structure to provide two additional levels and 600 spaces of parking. The existing parking structure, built in the mid-1990’s, is a precast concrete structure, and the two-level expansion is post-tensioned concrete. Special details were developed for connecting the new cast-in- place structure to the existing precast-concrete columns and shear walls. Existing elevator and stair towers were expanded, and the existing structure entrances and parking layouts were reconfigured.
The bus bay between the new and existing garages has a curved translucent roof that protects patrons from precipitation. Kiosks are provided near the entrance to each garage that houses the parking fare collection machines. Bridges connect the third through seventh levels of the new parking structure with the existing expanded structure.
Sitework for the parking garage expansion consisted of relocating an existing Anne Arundel County sanitary sewer, constructing a sand filter for stormwater quality control, installing new water service and fire hydrants, and replacing pavement on adjacent site access roads.
Throughout construction of the new structure and addition to the existing deck, traffic flow to the Amtrak Station was maintained during all hours of operation.
