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Guide to Rooftop Parking Design

January.30.2025

Guide to Rooftop Parking Design

January.30.2025

For your parking garage design to provide the best user experience, you need to integrate structure and function with aesthetics and human considerations. Achieving this requires considering several factors, such as structural capacity and equipment compatibility. Design is the key foundational phase that allows businesses to create rooftop parking structures that resonate with their vision and offer their customers a safe, convenient place to park.

This guide to rooftop parking design can help you create a functional, visually appealing, and user-friendly structure. Read on to discover the design standards and building codes your rooftop parking garage should comply with and how to avoid mistakes during the design phase.

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things to consider for rooftop parking

Things to Consider When Building a Rooftop Parking Lot

When creating a rooftop parking structure design, it’s essential to carefully consider whether the space has the necessary capabilities and if customers will be able to make effective use of it. Thoroughly considering each of these elements can improve the value of your parking garage design.

Structural Capacity

Can the roof of your building or parking garage handle the weight you want to put on it? The roof of your building or parking garage should possess the structural strength to house the vehicles and any additional structures you add. Considering structural capacity allows businesses to avoid wasting time and money on building protective structures the parking garage cannot handle.

Look for distress, such as corrosion, ponding water, and other structural safety concerns. Identifying pervasive problematic conditions and making alterations so the structure is sturdy is vital.

Ease of Access

How accessible is the rooftop you want to retrofit into a parking area, and does it comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements? The rooftop of the parking garage or building you want to design for should have convenient, ADA-compliant access from bottom tiers or ground level for users to drive up and down through.

ADA-compliant parking spaces must be at least 8 feet wide for standard vehicles and 11 feet wide for vans. They should also be located at the shortest accessible route to the entrance.

Aesthetic Considerations

Will your rooftop parking lot present an intriguing view for your users, or will it overlook another brick wall? While the primary function of the parking lot is to be a convenient space for users to park their vehicles, aesthetics can add value to your design and increase the level of satisfaction that your visitors get from using your rooftop parking lot.

Rooftop parking lots are exposed to the elements, and rain, snow, and wind can wear down the lot over time. Debris may also accumulate. Installing durable coverings that protect the structure and the vehicles that park there can make a noticeable difference in keeping your garage well-maintained and visually appealing. Consider opting for dark coverings to provide a cohesive, professional appearance and streamline maintenance.

Compatibility With Other Installed Equipment

What other fittings are installed on the rooftop of the building or garage, and how might they interrupt the smooth flow of vehicles and pedestrians? For example, most rooftops may already house air conditioners, plumbing fittings, and electrical equipment.

Consider how these fittings affect your users’ experience and how to design a parking structure around them to optimize it. You should also consider the different features and requirements of some customers’ or workers’ vehicles. For example, trailers, trucks, and delivery vehicles are taller than standard cars and may need more space and clearance to operate in the roof deck parking area.

Other Needed Garage Equipment

Beyond marking out parking bays and setting up ramps, what other equipment would you install on the rooftop parking lot? While designing the parking lot, consider the equipment placement, such as booths for revenue collection, if applicable, and offices for staff.

Your Parking Lot’s Users

Who would use the parking space? Different visitors have different needs. Considering the needs of the most frequent visitors can help you determine the parking space width, traffic flow, and optimum turning radius.

Implement clear signage to direct traffic flow and navigate customers through the rooftop parking. When selecting the type of parking structure, consider the weather in the area. For example, if the area has frequent hailstorms, then investing in hail protection structures can appeal more to customers and attract more traffic to your area of business.

Desired Parking Layout

What parking configuration do you want to implement for your parking lot? In the design stage, consider the parking style you wish to adopt — whether parallel parking, perpendicular parking, or angled parking. That’s because the parking system you choose to design determines the traffic flow — whether one-way or two-way.

Financial Requirements and Costs

How much would it cost to implement your design? Finance is an essential consideration in design. You should create a harmony between the cost of your plan and the available budget. Also, analyze the parking layout capacity of your design and the price per square foot to optimize your design for cost-effectiveness.

Considering these factors can help you design a rooftop parking garage that provides the most value to end users.

Requirements for Designing and Building a Rooftop Parking Lot

The top requirements for designing and building a rooftop parking lot involve sustainability, spatial guidelines, and customer consideration. To ensure the best visitor experience and value, a rooftop parking lot should combine functional, human, structural, and aesthetic features.

Urban Planning and Sustainability

Rooftop parking lots should align with the surrounding structures to create a seamless aesthetic that appeals to customers and local authorities. They should blend into the company’s branding and offer a visual upgrade to a commercial property.

Rooftop Parking Lot Aesthetics

Different urban planning authorities offer different requirements and provisions for parking area design, including many that ensure environmental stewardship and sustainability. Your rooftop parking lot should integrate with these requirements. Consulting the building code of the state and city you design for can help you understand the standards your parking lot should follow.

Spatial Needs of Vehicles and Drivers

Here are four spatial requirements your design should meet:

  • Optimum parking geometry: Your parking bay should provide enough parking space for each vehicle. Parking bays should be properly spaced, and the parking lot should have an accurate turning radius for easy traffic flow. The height, size, and width of the vehicles you’re designing for will determine your parking geometry.
  • Smooth entrance and exit: Design the traffic flow in the parking lot to avoid congestion at the entry and exit points. The parking lot should provide for safe and efficient passage of automobiles and drivers.
  • The number of parking spaces: Consider the expected occupancy of the building or area the parking lot serves and how many cars it will need to accommodate. Also, consult your state zoning codes to learn the required number of parking spaces for various properties.
  • Pedestrian access: Your design should provide walkway access from every parking space to the aisle and entrance of the parking lot. Also, for safety and efficiency, minimize the number of vehicle aisles pedestrians must cross when accessing the entrance.

Structural Requirements

Your rooftop parking lot design should meet the structural requirements outlined below:

  • Slippage and drainage requirements: Your rooftop parking garage design should have accurate sloping for water to flow to a collection point without creating pooling that may cause safety and maintenance problems.
  • Weather conditions: To improve the user experience and protect vehicles, take steps to protect vehicles and drivers from weather conditions such as hail, heat, and UV radiation. For example, you could integrate cantilever canopy structures for shade and hail protection on rooftop parking.

Ensure your design meets all structural considerations by seeking peer review for the design before commencing the construction process.

Operational and Safety Requirements

The safety and security of automobiles and drivers are crucial. Your design should meet these three operational and safety requirements:

  • ADA compliance: From the design stage, you should make provisions for accessibility for your parking lot.
  • Points for installing security equipment: Your parking lot design should include cameras, security lights, and emergency communication buttons.
  • Signs for easy navigation: Integrate color-coded canopies, signs, visual cues, and numbering systems in your design to enable users to locate parking spaces in the parking lot.

Green Roofing and Parking Requirements

Your parking lot design may need to meet green parking standards to maintain sustainable building certifications or city ordinances. Some possibilities for ensuring an environmentally responsible parking area include installing green energy sources such as solar panels or using mesh shade structures to eliminate urban heat islands.

Design Codes and Standards

Below is a list of design codes and standards your design might need to comply with depending on the applicable laws or the property owner’s requirements. We also list accreditation and standard organizations you can work with to guide your parking lot design.

Some codes and standards to consider for your design include:

  • United States ADA Guidelines
  • International Building Code (IBC)
  • Parksmart — The Green Parking Council’s Green Garage Certification
  • Unified Facilities Guide Specifications (UFGS) 32 17 24.00 10 — Pavement Markings
  • US Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Rating System
  • Sustainable Sites Certification

Some organizations to consult during design and construction include:

  • American Society of Civil Engineers
  • American Planning Association
  • Eno Center for Transportation
  • The Automatic and Mechanical Parking Association — A newly formed association to advance the cause of automatic and mechanical facilities.
  • International Parking Association
  • Institute of Transportation Engineers
  • National Transportation Research Board
  • Parking Today
  • Parksmart
  • Urban Land Institute

Steps to Designing a Rooftop Parking Lot

A company’s rooftop parking lot design depends on its business type, clientele, surrounding structures, and design vision. Let’s go through a typical step-by-step process for designing a parking structure on a rooftop.

Company Rooftop Parking Lot Design

 

Step 1: Conduct a Parking Study

Conduct a study of the existing parking structures in the building and the surrounding area to know the present parking space provisions and usage. Determine the unmet needs with existing parking and identify the impact a new parking lot could have.

This can help you choose the best configurations, number of spaces, and traffic plan for your rooftop parking lot design. For example, an analysis of the waiting time and the kind of vehicles using existing parking lots can give you insight into the type of visitors you should design for.

Step 2: Determine Parking Geometry

Determine roof deck parking bay sizing based on the shape and slope of the rooftop and the type and number of vehicles your parking lot must accommodate. Also, determine the orientation for your parking bays. Generally, your parking bays should be parallel to the longer dimension of the parking space.

To determine the parking bay width, consider local zoning codes, which often set a minimum width for parking bays. The typical standard width for a parking bay is between 7-1/2 feet and 9 feet. ADA-compliant accessible parking spaces must be wider — at least 8 feet wide for standard vehicles and 11 feet wide for van parking, with a 5-foot aisle on either side for accessibility. Parking bays also need to be roughly 10 to 20 feet long.

Specialized parking slots for trucks and trailers need to be broader and longer — at least 15 feet wide and 30-40 feet long. Outside of the parking bays, you must leave room and proper markings for vehicle traffic, pedestrian walkways, and adequate turn radiuses. These geometrics should be properly marked with painted striping.

determine parking type and traffic flow

Step 3: Determine Your Parking Type and Traffic Flow

Decide on the best traffic flow for your parking lot. Would one-way traffic serve you better than two-way traffic, or vice versa? Both traffic flow types — one-way and two-way traffic — come with pros and cons. Here are some factors to consider:

  • The flow you choose influences the parking configuration and the width of the aisles. For example, one-way traffic works best with angled parking bays.
  • To implement perpendicular parking, a two-way traffic flow may suit the parking garage better.
  • For a one-way traffic flow, the angle of the parking bays determines the direction of vehicle flow.

The best parking type for your parking lot design should allow for maximum utilization of your parking lot, easy access to the entrance and exit, and streamlined traffic flow.

Step 4: Ensure Smooth Parking Lot Access

The exit and entry points to the parking lot should be highly visible. Consider other structures, such as booths and staff offices, and how they may cause congestion.

The expected traffic volume can also help you determine the number of entries and exits needed to allow for the best traffic flow. If the lot will be used primarily as long-term parking with few people arriving or leaving at once, fewer entries and exits are necessary. However, at workplaces or event venues, many vehicles will enter and leave the lot at similar times, necessitating more entry and exit points.

Step 5: Provide for Pedestrian Traffic

Make provision for pedestrian access in the parking lot. Pedestrian aisles, like sidewalks, must be separate from aisles for automobiles. They should also be within line of sight and preferably adjacent to the exit or entry point for vehicles.

design for accessibility

Step 6: Design for Accessibility

The ADA requires a minimum number of accessible parking spaces for every parking lot. You should also consult the parking code of your state and municipality and the International Building Code (IBC) to determine accessibility requirements. Each accessible parking space must have appropriate signage and markings.

Step 7: Design for Security and Safety

Include strategic locations for security cameras and lighting to improve nighttime visibility. Ensure a clear line of sight for security cameras with minimal obstructions in your design. Also, make provisions for two-way emergency communication systems and visible color-coding and symbols. You might also design for more lighting at the entry and exit points. You can follow the industry lighting standards of the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES).

implement signs

Step 8: Implement Signs and Wayfinding

For proper design and user experience, your parking lot should have the appropriate signs to guide users. The signs must be placed correctly. They should be clear and easy to understand with legible text, recognizable symbols, and nighttime illumination. Here is a list of signs and wayfinding tools you should consider for your rooftop parking lot:

  • Accessibility signs
  • Entry and exit signs
  • Regulatory traffic signs — like “one way,” “stop,” “no parking,” “yield,” and “do not enter”
  • Pavement and parking bay striping

All should conform to the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTC) and state and local requirements.

Step 9: Design for Drainage

Rain, snow, water from pressure cleaning or nearby sprinklers, or vehicle leakage can pool in the parking lot and cause deterioration. The rooftop parking lot must allow for drainage, with a system to collect excess water. A slope of 2%-5% is recommended for proper parking lot drainage.

Step 10: Design for Aesthetics and Protection

Rooftop parking lots offer more than utility — they can also be fashion statements, attracting more visitors or tenants and increasing property value. For example, attractive rooftop views can add to the parking experience, making the lot a more desirable place for people to park.

You can also install rooftop shade structures to make your rooftop parking lot appealing to pedestrians and drivers and protect vehicles from hail, heat, UV radiation, and weather conditions. Shade structures provide both protective and aesthetic benefits to your parking lot.

Step 11: Obtain Needed Sustainable Design Features and Get Accreditation

If your rooftop parking lot is part of a building — for example, an office complex —  you can  consider LEED accreditation from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to certify your parking facility as sustainable, green and energy-efficient. If you’re designing a rooftop parking lot for a stand-alone parking garage, you may not be able to obtain a LEED accreditation. Still, you can earn specific green parking certifications by introducing sustainable design features into your garage and rooftop parking lot design.

Some features that can qualify a project for sustainability certifications include adding solar panel shade structures and water-efficient landscaping on the roof. You can find more on the USGBC website.

Best Type of Rooftop Parking Protective Structures

What Is the Best Type of Rooftop Parking Protective Structure?

The best type of rooftop parking structures depends on what your business needs. Here are four options depending on different focus areas:

Cantilever Structures

Cantilevers are fixed to the ground on one end, making them ideal for areas with no obstructions. The design is streamlined for effective load transfer and faster construction, and businesses can customize the fabric and steel colors to align with their branding. These structures are an excellent pick for businesses looking to create shaded, protective areas.

Waterproof Structures

In areas that experience regular, heavy rain, businesses can invest in a waterproof shade structure to keep customers comfortable. Without these structures, drivers may avoid parking in the lot if the only available space is on the uncovered rooftop. Waterproof structures can also help increase revenue by allowing companies to offer premium covered parking spots for additional fees.

Mass Coverage Structures

Businesses with large commercial properties should consider mass coverage structures for ample corporate rooftop parking. These structures offer hail protection, shade, and a sense of visual uniformity. If you have a large rooftop space to cover, a mass coverage option can be an effective investment.

Solar Panel Integrated Structures

With the amount of sunlight that can hit the rooftop, solar panel shaded structures are perfect for these parking spots. They allow businesses to offer sun protection while benefiting from the space by gaining solar power. Companies may also enjoy reduced utility costs and a reputation as a sustainability-focused business.

Solar parking structures may offer tax benefits and can boost chances for funding initiatives seeking sustainability-focused companies.

Benefits of Incorporating Shade Structures into Rooftop Parking Design

Benefits of Incorporating Shade Structures into Rooftop Parking Design

Shade structures provide a range of advantages that extend far beyond sun and weather protection. Incorporating shade structures into your rooftop parking garage offers benefits such as:

  • Improved structural aesthetics: For rooftop parking lots in multi-level parking garages, protective fabric covering shade structures can provide more aesthetic value than concrete walls or enclosures on the upper deck. At the same time, they provide plenty of protection and durability.
  • More parking space and visibility: Drivers may avoid parking on rooftop parking spaces in parking garages because of their exposure to weather elements such as hail, heat, and UV radiation. With a rooftop covering, you can provide more convenient parking space that brings in more customers. This investment can lead to increased revenue.
  • Better visibility for driving: Compared to concrete columns and walls, shade structures like cantilevers can improve visibility and ease the flow of foot and vehicle traffic. It’s easier for drivers to see where they’re going, especially those operating large trucks.
  • More cost-effective: Fabric shade structures are more affordable and cost-effective than concrete coverings. For example, VPS-covered parking solutions can cost 15–25% less than concrete roof deck parking solutions.
  • Improved property market value: Fabric shade structures are visually appealing and can increase the availability of shaded parking spaces, which can boost the marketability of your parking space or your property value overall.

VPS works with designers and architects to fit parking lots and garages with permanent fabric shade structures. We can also help you with designing a functional and aesthetically pleasing rooftop parking space.

Contact VPS for Your Shade Structures

Are you looking to create a rooftop parking space that will make your commercial property more visually appealing and offer vehicle weather protection? With our rooftop parking design guide in mind, you can create a safer, convenient space for customers, clients, and visitors to park.

At VPS, we pride ourselves on being the industry leaders in shade structure fabrication and vehicle protection. We help commercial property owners and a range of other businesses create shade and protection in parking lots, no matter their location or size. Our turnkey shade solutions can keep cars safe from direct sunlight, rain, and hail.

We customize shade structures to suit your business needs and property appearance, focusing on creating compliant structures that are aligned with industry best practices. Our facilities are accredited by the International Accreditation Service (IAS), and our experts will guide you through every stage of your parking project, from design and development to installation and management.

Contact us today and let us help you create a professional shade structure for your roof deck parking.

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