Sac State鈥檚 Parking Structure 5 (PS5) is a six-story example of modern construction innovation, from its cooling white interior and technical amenities, to the dozens of green aluminum 鈥渓eaves鈥� that pay homage to the University鈥檚 urban forest.
It also is a sustainability masterpiece, and earned recognition as such.
Parksmart, the only rating system for parking structures that promotes sustainable mobility through smarter design and operation, made PS5’s high standing official in late November by awarding it a prestigious Gold certification.
Sacramento State is the first university in the country to achieve Parksmart Gold status, PS5 being one of just four of the 36 structures certified by Parksmart to earn that top rating.
鈥淪ustainability, innovation, determination, and teamwork were key factors contributing to Parking Structure 5鈥檚 designation as a Parksmart Gold certified project,鈥� said Tony Lucas, associate vice president for Business and Administrative Services.
鈥淭hose factors are a part of the Sac State DNA and guide our stewardship of precious resources. The certification is testimony to Sac State鈥檚 commitment to a sustainable environment.鈥�
Parksmart is administered by Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), which also manages the green-building rating system known as LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design).
鈥淩eceiving the Parksmart Gold certification is the embodiment of Sac State鈥檚 concerted sustainability efforts,鈥� said Jonathan Bowman, vice president for Administration and Business Affairs. 鈥淜udos to the project team for this impressive accolade.鈥�
PS5 is Sac State鈥檚 newest parking structure and earned 171 of a possible 248 points to achieve Parksmart鈥檚 top honors.
Contributing to the high score is the built-in occupancy-sensor system, which alerts drivers to the number of available parking spaces via a signboard along Arboretum Way and on the Sac State app.
Once inside PS5, drivers watch for the overhead LED lights that indicate open and filled parking spots ahead.
Among the structure鈥檚 other notable features are Sac State鈥檚 first tire-inflation station, a bike compound for 100 two-wheelers, 54 electric-vehicle charging stations, carpool/clean-air vehicle spaces on multiple floors, and the infrastructure for photovoltaic solar array scheduled for installation in spring 2021.
Additionally, bioswales on the grounds reduce the amount of potentially dirty stormwater runoff into the nearby American River.
The $42 million parking structure, near the J Street campus entrance adjacent to the University Arboretum and the Welcome Center, opened in May 2018.
Dreyfuss + Blackford Architecture designed PS5 and the Welcome Center, which was completed last spring during the COVID-19 campus closure. University Transportation and Parking Services (UTAPS) moved its headquarters to the Welcome Center from Folsom Hall in April.
鈥淲e all have a lot to be proud of by achieving Parksmart Gold. This certainly isn鈥檛 the norm for parking structures,鈥� said Erik Winje, preconstruction manager for 多多视频, the structure’s design-build contractor. 鈥淗ats off to Sacramento State for sticking to their sustainability vision and to Dreyfuss + Blackford for a design well done.鈥�
PS5 also became a mobile study hall after the pandemic prompted Sac State to move instruction online and close most campus buildings. The Division of Information Resources and Technology (IRT) quickly converted the parking structure into a drive-in Wi-Fi 鈥渉ot spot鈥� for students who need reliable internet service to attend virtual classes and do their homework.
