Car Parks 2024 is an event focused on the design, construction, operation and maintenance of parking structures. The day will offer topical presentations, expert panels and a chance to network with colleagues in an exhibition showcasing the latest systems and services.
Car parks are not just places to garage vehicles. They are dynamic spaces whose users are always on the move. They are important civic structures that support their local economy, open up destinations and provide space for a wide range of other services activities.
A new generation of public car parks is showing that multi-storeys can be iconic gateways to town and city centres and act as catalysts for urban regeneration. The day will also showcase recent champion car parks from the British Parking Awards.
© I am Nick/Unsplash
The day will showcase The Institution of Structural Engineers' new book Car Park Design.
The publication won the 'Special Jury Award' at the British Parking Awards 2023 as an exceptional entry that particularly impressed the jury, which is a panel of experts drawn from across the parking, automotive, transport and related sectors.
Programme
Please note programme is currently in development. If you have an idea for a talk contact the event's programmer Mark Moran
09.00
Registration
Tea & coffee served in the exhibition area
09.45
Session 1: Building better car parks
Car parks are a functional building form that are usually taken for granted, but they are actually important, complex and sometimes even inspiring structures. Car parks are essential to the operation of towns, cities, transport systems and the world of retail. A new generation of parking structures show that they can be attractive gateways to town centres, act as catalysts for urban regeneration and even be attractive civic buildings.
Welcome
Vaso Vaina, Managing Director, Stripe Consulting
The life of car parks
Car parks are not just places to garage vehicles. They are dynamic places, whose users are always on the move. They are also complex structures, which are open to the elements and subjected to many stresses.
A team of architects and engineers from the multi-disciplinary team at Stripe Consulting will explore the life of a car park, from the point of inception. They will look at how to plan, design, construct and maintain these complex structures.
The panel
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Jon Elliott, Head of Architecture
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Jessica McGregor, Architect
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Harry Smith, Senior Technical Manager
The team will address issues such as:
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The planning process
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Understanding the needs of the destination
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Planning for people
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Choosing the structural type
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Designing façades
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Selecting the right systems to operate a car park
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Maintenance
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Life Care Planning
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'End of life' car parks: Renovation or replacement?
Lighting the way ahead: Riverside Sunderland
The illuminated exterior of Sunderland City Council's Riverside car park is a beacon for the city's regeneration. It acts is a perfect example of how new developments can blend functionality and aesthetics with sustainable construction. Riverside Sunderland won a Best New Car Park trophy at the British Parking Awards winner.
Jeanette Armin, Commercial Development Manager, Sunderland City Council
Designing out car crime
The Safer Parking Scheme is a national standard for UK car parks that have low crime and measures in place to ensure the safety of people and vehicles. Each car park undergoes a rigorous assessment by specially trained police assessors. The presentation provides details of Park Mark Plus and a new award for lorry parking.
Sara Fisher, Head of Operations and Business Development, British Parking Association
Accessible car parks
The British Parking Association and Disabled Motoring UK have devised a new accreditation for car park operators seeking to provide accessible sites:
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Park Access: A brand new accreditation that aims to become recognised throughout the whole of the UK for accessible and inclusive parking and electric vehicle charging facilities. Park Access will enable everyone, regardless of their accessibility needs, to identify car parks and facilities, such as EV chargepoints, that they can use with ease.
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Park Access EV: The accreditation encompasses PAS1899, a new accessibility standard for public EV charging points developed by the BSI, in its role as the national standards body (NSB). It provides detailed requirements and recommendations for the design of public EV charging infrastructure.
Graham Footer, Chief Executive, Disabled Motoring UK
Sara Fisher, Head of Operations and Business Development, British Parking Association
Q&A
11.00
Morning break
Tea & coffee served in the exhibition area
11.30
Session 2: Car park design trends
A panel of architects, engineers and construction experts will address issues relating to the development, design and building of car parks.
Chair
Russell Simmons, Chief Executive, Ballast Nedam UK (Car Park Design co-author)
Parking design by the book
Car Park Design is new and timely guidance published by the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE). The award-winning publication covers the design, construction and asset management of all car park structures, including standalone multi-storey car parks and underground car parks.
Car Park Design joins the Institution of Civil Engineers' Recommendations for the Inspection, Maintenance and Management of Car Park Structures on the essential reading list.
Peter Guest, Parking Consultant (Car Park Design co-author)
Cars and car parks
Car parks are, by definition, places to park cars, so it seems sensible to look at what is happening to the design of vehicles when building or renovating parking structures. In particular, the circulation and bay layouts of car parks needs to take account of the growing size and weight of modern cars, and the requirements of electric vehicles.
Chris Whapples, Car Park & Structural Consultant, Stripe Consulting (Overseeing Consultant, Car Park Design)
Ask the experts: Following their presentations, the panel will answer questions on a range of issues relating to the development, design and building of car parks. Possible talking points include:
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Selecting the right structural system
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Vehicle circulation
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Sustainability
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Accessibility
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Electric vehicle charging
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Suicide prevention
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Robotic and automated car parks.
Fire in car parks
There have been a spate of catastrophic car park fires where a blaze spread between vehicles, destroying hundreds of cars and leading to the partial collapse of the multi-storey structures. In the UK we experienced:
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The Liverpool Arena in 2017
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London Luton Airport in 2023.
These events seem to run counter to most past experience, where car fires remain contained in the vehicle and structures were unaffected. So, are car fires becoming more dangerous? What is happening and what can be done?
Understanding fire in car parks
The panel, led by Russell Simmons, chair of the BPA Structures Group and Fire Risks in Car Parks Group, will discuss: how the parking sector is working to better understand fire in car parks; and how to design and build fire prevention into modern car parks.
An analysis of fire safety measures in multi storey car parks – are incremental time increases truly indicative of improved fire safety?
Huber Parking UK Limited presents an analysis of current fire safety measures and relative cost implications. Following which the question is posed of whether a 60-minute fire safety strategy automatically indicates higher safety than a 15-minute one? Or are there other factors to be considered?
Marco Reifert, Head of the Design Management Department, and James Fildes, Project Development Manager, Huber Parking UK
Discussion
The panel and delegates will then address issues such as:
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How fire behaves in different types of car park structure
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Understanding why and how ICE and EV cars catch fire
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Car park design standards and guidance
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Detecting fire in car parks
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The use of sprinklers
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Ventilation and smoke management
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Managing an emergency.
Q&A
13.00
Lunch
Refreshments served in the exhibition area
14.15
Session 3: Car park revival
A good number of 1960s and '70s vintage car parks are currently facing closure and demolition after being deemed to have reached the end of their life. However, sometimes it can make more commercial, operational and environmental sense to renovate and modernise older structures. We present two case studies that have won the Best Renovation trophy at the British Parking Awards.
Chair
Mark Moran, Editor, Parking Review
The Bath Podium Car Park: Restoration in a historic city
Bath Podium was an ageing structure that had been chalked up for demolition, however a team of property developers, architects, engineers and specialist contractors worked to not just save the structure but also create a first class facility that provides an essential parking service in a historic city.
This presentation will explore:
• Why the decision to renovate rather than demolish was taken
• The key problems that had to be addressed
• The solutions devised and applied
• Making provision electric vehicles
• The challenges of working in historic contexts.
Polly Church, Director, Potter Church & Holmes Architects
Preston Bus Station Car Park: Preserving a Grade 2 Listed structure
Preston Bus Station Car Park was opened to great fanfare in 1969 but, by the turn of the century, it was under threat of demolition. Campaigning by enthusiasts of brutalist architecture bore fruit in 2013 when the structure was awarded listed status. Increasingly, mid-century reinforced concrete structures are being recognised and protected by Historic England.
If structures subject to extreme exposure conditions are to be successfully preserved for future generations, it is critical that corrosion mechanisms are accurately identified and managed. Preston Bus Station Car Park is a fascinating example of what can be achieved by thorough investigation and the application of targeted innovative corrosion control technologies.
David Bewley, Commercial Manager, Concrete Preservation Technologies
Q&A
15:00
Session 4: Where are car parks heading?
An exploration of how car parks are used and perceived by developers, landowners, planners, parking operators and (most importantly) drivers.
Chair
Manny Rasores de Toro, Mr Parking Technology & Services Consultancy
The car park of tomorrow: An operator's view
Instead of merely being places of to leave a car, the next generation of car parks will be facilities that provide electric vehicle charging, access to shared mobility schemes and services such as click & collect. Mobility hub? Service hub? EV hub? How will the car park evolve?
Guy Watson, Managing Director, Apex Parking
The new economics of parking
The Million Dollar Question is whether or not to rebuild ageing structures so they offer a better parking experience in order to deliver a better return, or to offer lower service levels and tolerate lower yields?
Andrew Potter, Director, Parking Perspectives
Q&A
16.00
Networking drinks
16.30
Event close
Speakers
Key themes
At Car Parks 2024 expert panels will address key issues and answer questions on:
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Car park design
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Selecting structures
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Exterior design
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Fire safety
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Circulation and signage
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Lighting, CCTV, ventilation and lifts
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Renovation and refurbishment
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Managing car parks
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Designing out crime
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Electric vehicle charging
© I am Nick/Unsplash
Exhibition Opportunities
3m x 2m Exhibition Stand
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3m x 2m open space exhibition area supplied with table, chairs, wi-fi and power supply
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Company profile, including logo and 250 word profile on the event website
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Up to 3 delegate places for staff, colleagues and guest invitations
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Additional 5 delegate places for Local Authority contacts
£1,750 + VAT
2m x 2m Exhibition Stand
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2m x 2m open space exhibition area supplied with table, chairs, wi-fi and power supply
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Company profile, including logo and 150 word profile on the event website
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Up to 2 delegate places for staff, colleagues and guest invitations
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Additional 3 delegate places for Local Authority contacts
£1,400 + VAT
Supporter Package
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Company logo as 'Supporter' on the event website, in all advertisements and communications (print and digital)
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Inclusion in the programme, with a speaker or session chair (to be discussed with Programme Manager)
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3m x 2m open space exhibition area supplied with table, chairs, wi-fi and power supply
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Company profile, including logo and 250 word profile on the event website and in the delegate pack
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Up to 10 delegate places for staff, colleagues and guest invitations
£2,750 + VAT
