World Trade Center Seventh Street Parking Ramp
St. Paul, MinnesotaThis project encompasses the renovation of and addition to the existing Seventh Street Parking Ramp originally designed and built in 1987. The addition to the ramp includes construction of over seven new levels of parking deck, increasing parking capacity from 547 stalls to over 1,200 stalls. The east, south, and west faces of the parking decks are enclosed by a colorful new screenwall consisting of painted perforated metal panels and painted steel framework. Colors and materials for the building's exterior have been carefully selected to harmonize with neighboring institutions such as the Childrenís Museum, Science Museum of Minnesota, and the proposed World Trade Center Renovations. The south face of the building also serves as a dynamic and vibrant backdrop for the urban park sharing the southeastern corner of block. Glazed systems were used at the most public areas of the building to allow greater visibility to and from the street. This strategy improves passive monitoring of public areas by pedestrians on the streets and neighbors in adjacent buildings, thereby enhancing oneís sense of physical security.