MSP Airport – Parking Management Building

When project planners at Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport (MSP) decided to expand parking and transit capacity at its Terminal 1 campus with a 5,000 stall facility, it was clear that numerous roads and structures would need to be relocated to make room for the 6 year multi-phased project. One of the first and most critical of the structures to be relocated was an existing 1990s era Parking Management Building, along with the attached 18 lane exit plaza and pay booth canopy.

Designed to contain all of the infrastructure needed to support the revenue systems, operations, and maintenance of all airport parking structures, the building houses managerial offices, conference rooms, restrooms, locker rooms, a break room, vehicle storage and maintenance, and a control room overseeing security and customer service calls.

Building materials and systems were chosen to complement the existing campus architecture of utilitarian purpose. Translucent and tinted window glazing has been deliberately arranged to facilitate interior daylighting and outward views, while concealing much of the building’s secure and somewhat messy operations from public view.

Although a highly secured building divided into multiple zones of varying access, every attempt was made to provide visibility between the public spaces and key operational areas. In addition to offering bright, day-lit interiors, strategically placed glazed walls and window openings help support human interactivity through passive monitoring and impromptu exchanges.