AUTOMATED PARKING GARAGE HOLDS THE KEY TO MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT: Peter Fillat Architects designs a state-of-the-art, high-density automated parking garage that maximizes parking spaces while minimizing environmental impact
Baltimore, MD, May 1, 2009 (MARKET WIRE)
Construction is expected to begin later this year on a seven story 36,050 square-foot mixed-use facility at 18 W Saratoga Street owned by the Southern Management Corporation. Designed by the Baltimore based architecture firm, Peter Fillat Architects (PFA), the building will house a 9,400 square-foot state of the art automated parking garage as well as 19 rental apartments occupying 26,650 square-feet. Located directly east of Baltimore City’s oldest intact building, St. Paul’s Rectory, PFA thoughtfully framed its historic neighbor, maintaing the street views while still allowing the new structure to be boldly contemporary.
The automated parking garage system was developed by a former NASA engineer. When completed 18 W Saratoga Street will be the densest parking structure in the United States at almost 1,500 vehicles per acre; 402 parking spaces for cars and SUVs will occupy the north end of the building. A traditional parking structure would be 3 to 5 times larger to accommodate the same number of vehicles. The 19 apartments will occupy the south side facing W Saratoga Street.
The building is composed of autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC), aluminum clad wood windows with recycled glass and aluminum sun shades on the apartments. These materials in addition to the building’s vegetated roof, trees and low ground cover, and other environmental preservation features contribute to the building’s expected LEED Platinum certification.
About the firm:
Peter Fillat Architects was founded in 1992, after Principal Peter A. Fillat, AIA, decided to open his own studio where he could more intimately explore design. The studio was known as “Studio Wanda” dubbed such in honor of a high-spirited work group with whom he had previous worked. At Studio Wanda, his goal was to design in harmony with the environment and to create lasting works of architecture – architecture of permanence. In the 1990s, the studio worked on a variety of projects including custom residential and restaurants, expanding its client base and diversifying its portfolio.
The studio has continued to grow over the past 17 years, providing a full range of architectural services for urban, mixed-use development, hospitality, multi-family residential, adaptive re-use, retail, and office projects. Today, PFA focuses on three types of work: hospitality, mixed-use and multi-family. In particular, we are proud to have worked extensively on Baltimore's famous Inner Harbor East and the award-winning Bear Creek Mountain Resort. This is just a taste of our work though, as we are adding new breadth and depth to our portfolio daily.
