parking complex agriculture craig johnson final project, 2012

1. PARKING COMPLEX AGRICULTURE
Craig Johnson // ISD Fall 2012
MCAD Sustainable Design Masters Program
Photo // Craig Johnson

2. Old Idea—History > 1
I Have An Idea > 2
Why Now? > 3
Profits: Lot Owners > 4
Options > 6
The Environment > 7
Benefits: Public > 8
How To > 9
Recommendations > 10
Conclusion > 11
CONTENTS≤

3. The use of rooftop agriculture is by no means
new. From the days of the Ur Dynasty with its
terraced rooftop gardens in Mesopotamia, to
the Greenland Norse and Irish Celts who both
used sod to insulate and protect their roofs,
rooftop agriculture has been a strategic choice
in building for centuries.
Today, the idea of rooftop agriculture is alive
again with popularity. Understood as one
solution to a global excess of pollutants and
other chemicals carried in rain, rooftop
agriculture can be a champion against habitat
and biodiversity loss and an urban heat island
effect. For these reasons and more, installing a
green or living rooftop has never made more
sense. While this idea applied to a typical
building has benefits that outweigh initial costs,
IT’S AN OLD IDEA, BUT NOT A TIRED ONE. problems of structural integrity, access,
maintenance, and city approval can arise. All
these issues can be overcome. However, when
looking at a city from the air, it seems there is
often one opportunity left out.
Traditionnal buildings with green roofs at Norðragøta on Eysturoy, Faroe Islands
Photo // Erik Christensen

4. Now, take what we know about rooftop
agriculture—the benefits and
enhancements—and let us apply this knowledge
to top-level parking ramp platforms. Why? Have
you ever looked down on a city and taken in all
the wasted rooftop space? Well, much of that
space is not only building rooftops, but also
parking ramps. The top of a multilevel parking
ramp is traditionally the most underused, and
therefore, the least valuable of the parking
spaces.
Parking ramps have often been built in
changing cities where parking needs for
stadiums or activities aren’t always long lasting.
Original ramps must share demand with newer
ramps emerging in the area, resulting in excess
space when demand fluctuates. This not only
leaves open parking spaces, but it also lowers
the price of all parking. Add the fact that cities
I HAVE AN IDEA. A NEW TWIST ON ROOFTOP AGRICULTURE. across the world are growing in their numbers,
with 75% of inhabitants of developed nations
living in urban areas. In fact, research indicated
that by 2007, half of the world’s population
would be living in urban areas.1 Roads are not
likely to be added to the urban landscape.
Rather, future road space must be reallocated,
devoting it to alternative forms of more efficient
transportation, such as light rail. This is likely to
reduce automotive traffic further. Picture a
boom in parking to the point of excess years ago
in cities all over, and now a diminished need for
parking in the foreseen future. It’s a dark
picture for parking ramp owners. It also leaves
a city with a surplus of empty top-level parking
spaces looking for a new, better use.

5. The space is easy
to use.
The public will benefit.
The city will grow.
WHY NOW?
The ramp owners will
be loved.
Brooklyn Grange (New York City)
Photo // BROMLEY CALDARI ARCHITECTS PC, Top 5 Of The Greatest Urban Rooftop Farms, by Joop De Boer, Nov 8, 2012

6. It’s not unreasonable that the top level of a
parking ramp has the least desirable of parking
spaces. The open platform at the top level takes
the most time to drive to, involves longer times
to return to the street level by stairs or elevator,
and all the while, it exposes vehicles to the
elements of pounding rain, hail, harsh sun, and
snow accumulation. All these negative reasons
that the top level is so unpopular are the very
reasons that it’s perfect for parking complex
agriculture. Ramp owners can use this to their
advantage. They can take the weakest,
lowest-returning spaces in the parking ramp
and transform that area into one with more
productive and positive earning potential.
Starting a parking complex agriculture site,
offers increased property value through:
LOT OWNERS WILL BENEFIT. A LOT. extending the life of the top-level structure;
opening a parking ramp to take advantage of
local and national tax incentives, grants, and
other funding; and earning LEED points for a
rooftop garden (NPDc13 classification).5 Better
yet, parking complex agriculture pulls people to
a parking ramp, bringing increased traffic and
visibility.
Photo Source // Google Maps

7. PARKING GARAGE AGRICULTURE

8. One can choose from a variety of options to
capitalize on a return of investment.
Option 1: The parking complex agriculture top
level may be broken into individual plots and
leased to customers or offered as a package
with annual parking permits. As a benefit to
parking lot owners, it encourages parking lot
use and word-of-mouth marketing.
Option 2: Lease the top level as a parking
complex agriculture site to a nearby restaurant
or business that has a café. Businesses like
Microsoft have developed rooftop agriculture to
provide fresh and ultra-local produce for
workers.2
Option 3: Design and transform the top level
OPTIONS. PROFITS. into a green community space that can be
rented for private parties or other events. A
community garden or green space will add
familiarity to the location and make it a great
“lunch break” destination to stretch the legs
and enjoy a bite to eat.
Any of these options will turn underused
property into a functioning commitment to the
public and the environment, and give people a
connection to the natural world in an urban
setting while increasing value and returns on
underused space.

9. Not only can this idea of developing urban
parking complex agriculture become a great
benefit to the owner of the parking ramp
property, but it also benefits the people who use
it, the public, and the environment, and
therefore should be embraced by all.
Let’s discuss the environment.
Storm water runoff—water that would once mix
with gas, oil, and other automotive chemicals on
the parking ramp concrete—is reduced. Rain,
which from the sky is often contaminated with
soot, sulfur, mercury, and other pollutants, can
now be absorbed and filtered by parking
complex agriculture. Vegetation creates
habitats, adding biodiversity into the ecosystem
THE ENVIRONMENT DESERVES IT. by attracting birds, bees, butterflies, and other
insects. Green leafy plants develop a cooling
effect while reflecting the suns radiation,
working against the urban heat island effect.
The vegetation also cleans the air, absorbing
carbon dioxide and other gases while adding
oxygen into the atmosphere. This same
vegetation can also provide a barrier to absorb
and lower sound levels.
Photo // Craig Johnson

10. Aesthetically beautiful green spaces spreading
across the city are a great improvement to the
look of any urban area. These spaces encourage
the community to emerge from within the steel
and concrete structures and wander about.
Access to green space in the city is viewed as a
public benefit. Humans desire to be surrounded
by nature (biophilia), and added green space is a
mental bonus to all in the urban surroundings.
Parking ramp agriculture offers that needed
connection to nature, adding community
involvement, a social gathering space, a place to
grow vegetables for food, or possibly a
convenient location to read a book on a break
from the office. Public gatherings and events
can use the space for social or educational
PUBLIC GAINS. PEOPLE BENEFIT.
purposes—possibly unlocking knowledge for
students or individuals who would like to know
more about agriculture.
On an individual level, people can benefit from
parking ramp agriculture by gaining a location
to grow their own food and provide a source for
inexpensive nutrition, or just through having a
resource to grow plants that give back to the
community.
Photo // HenryLeongHimWoh

11. Parking garage gardens can be as small as one parking ramp in a
city or a program to develop the top levels of all the parking ramps
in an urban area. In dense neighborhoods where it’s difficult to
find space for a community garden, this may be the most viable
economic solution.
Not all rooftop agriculture is created equally. Cost can vary from
$4 per square foot on the low end to $10 per square foot or beyond
depending on the location and resources.3 Size of the parking
garage garden depends on budget and space, but in Seattle a
30,000 square foot community garden was just completed, so
really consider the scale of what you can handle when you begin.
The cost of that parking garage garden ran just 10% more than a
community garden of the same size on terra firma. 3
An experienced landscape architect can be extremely helpful, and
a structural engineer is a must. Weight per square foot for a
parking garage can vary, be sure that the weight of your planned
parking garage garden matches with the pounds per square foot
of your garden beds. Hiring a structural engineer is necessary to HOW ARE PARKING GARAGE GARDENS CREATED?
be sure that all your weight loads imposed on the structure match
up to the design of the parking garage garden.
There are many green roof methods that can be drawn from to
develop a design and technology for implementation. Some of
these designs can be as complex as hydroponic systems,
agriculture or rooftop container gardens.4 Depending on which
system you decide on you’ll need to have some basic elements
such as soil (top soil or potting soil—weight differs between the
two, so the difference can help to lighten your square foot weight
load if needed), drainage and a retention layer, insulation possibly,
a root barrier, waterproofing and of course plants.5
Photo // OHNY 2007 (Rockefeller Rooftop Garden) By Rian Castillo [CC license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0]

12. First: Establish the Goal.
Is the parking ramp agriculture site for public use, to grow plants,
or to grow produce? Are there economic goals that need to be met?
What are the resources and timeframe? Define the needs and goals
you’re trying to reach or meet.
Second: Who Do You Involve?
Make a list of community garden groups, city departments, and
past rooftop and/or parking complex agriculture examples to draw
from and ask questions of. This list can’t be too big, but at the same
time, don’t be afraid to ask for references to other experts who
might help guide you to your goals. Will those involved be partners
or consultants? If you’re not the owner of a parking ramp consider
what location will fit the need, or if the site is chosen, what design
will fit the space.
Third: Who Will Own the Project?
Define responsibilities. Who will own this project during
development and who will see it through? Who will be responsible
for managing it after it’s up and running? What will be involved in
NOW, HOW DO WE BEGIN?
the way of continued revenue and resources? Where will this
STRATEGIC RECOMMENDATIONS.
parking ramp agriculture site exist, what hours will it have, and
who will it serve?
Getting materials, plants, and soil to the location couldn’t be easier.
Parking complex agriculture is practically ready to go! Parking
ramps are built for heavy weight loads and may better meet the
need structurally for the rooftop garden than many buildings’ roofs.
Don’t wait! Do it.

13. IT’S AN OPEN CANVAS.
Photo Source // Google Maps

14. No matter the reason for developing a parking garage garden, the
benefits are easy to understand. With popularity of rooftop gardens
growing in cities across the planet, focusing on this overlooked
resource can be expected to attract attention, and will be seen as a
positive improvement for the urban landscape. The idea of using
the parking garage can be an inexpensive and attractive alternative
to underutilized open concrete spaces. Through combined efforts of
lot owners, city leaders, and the community, these sites can be a
turned into a productive resource. The design can be small and
modeled for individual lease, or substantial enough to provide local
food harvested by nearby restaurants. The limits are only
CONCLUSION. dependent on the vision of the developers. With relatively low cost,
the upper level of a parking garage in your community can be the
new green space open to the public. The time is here. The parking
garage garden holds benefits to lot owners, the community,
individuals, and the environment. It offers benefits of improved
water, biodiversity, cleaner air, decreased solar radiation, a local
food source, a reconnection to nature, new revenue for lot owners,
social activity, a place for personal reflection, an educational
resource, and a way to beautify the landscape.
Parking garage gardens are a product of the future
not just the past.

15. GREATEST THANKS
Craig A Johnson

16. SOURCES
RESOURCES AND ASSISTANCE:
1. Arnfield, A. J. (2003), Two decades of urban climate research: a review of turbulence,
exchanges of energy and water, and the urban heat island. Int. J. Climatol., 23: 1–26. doi: 10.1002/joc.859
2. John Cook [GeekWire: May 24, 2012] Rooftop urban farm may sprout at Microsoft’s Redmond campus.
3. The ATLANTIC CITIES, A 30,000–Square-Foot Community Garden…, Sarah Deweerdt,
May 29, 2012 ROOF GARDEN, Wikipedia [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roof_garden]
4. THRIVE DESIGN STUDIO, Rooftop Agriculture Guide, (http://www.urbanthriving.com/rooftop-agriculture-guide]
5. MINNESOTA GREEN ROOFS COUNCIL, Green Roofs: the BIG idea [www.mngreenroofs.org]
ARCHITIZER News, Article: Seattle’s Garden in a Garage, July 9, 2012
Kistler Higbee Cahoot Landscape + Art + Community [portfolio 2012], http://www.kistlerhigbeecahoot.com
MINNESOTA GREEN ROOFS COUNCIL [www.mngreenroofs.org]
USGBC U.S. Green Building Council (https://new.usgbc.org)
IMAGE SOURCES:
BROMLEY CALDARI ARCHITECTS PC, Top 5 Of The Greatest Urban Rooftop Farms, by Joop De Boer, Nov 8, 2012
HenryLeongHimWoh [CC license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0]
OHNY 2007 (Rockefeller Rooftop Garden) By Rian Castillo [CC license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0]
Erik Christensen [CC license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0]