A combination of three stainless steel mesh patterns woven by Cambridge Architectural envelop the exterior facade of the new 700-space parking garage at The Universities at Shady Grove (USG) in Rockville, MD. The $20 million project, completed this spring, is expected to be one of the first parking facilities in the world to achieve Green Garage Certification under the Green Parking Council’s new rating system.
Using Cambridge’s Build-A-Pattern service, Cambridge’s project engineers worked with Baltimore-based Ayers Saint Gross architects to create a custom façade design that incorporates more than 31,300 square feet of mesh that helps to promote daylight control and ventilation in the garage.
Located at a major intersection at the campus entrance, the garage acts as a billboard for the University according to Daniel McKelvey, AIA, Associate Principal at Ayers Saint Gross.
“USG takes pride in being a technology university and wanted the façade to express this ideal,” he said. “Stainless mesh was a convenient way to incorporate a transparent solar veil over the garage to provide a high-tech appearance that complements the precast structure and serves to unify the geometry of the façade.
“The combination of mesh, precast concrete, glass, brick and rooftop photovoltaic panels work together to create a high tech expression that is a signature look for this and other buildings on the campus.”
Instead of using a monolithic screen, Ayers Saint Gross’ design incorporates three Cambridge mesh patterns – Pellican, Mid-Balance and Shade – in combination with punch-outs in the mesh to create aesthetic interest and air flow.
“There is a subtle interplay of different mesh types in the panels,” McKelvey said. “As the sun tracks around the building throughout the day, the different patterns are revealed as the available light changes.”
Made from recycled materials, the stainless mesh and Cambridge’s Eyebolt attachment system hardware contribute to the garage’s pending “Green” Certification.
Cambridge – a participant in the International Parking Institute’s Green Star program for sustainability – uses a cold forming process for the mesh that generates less environmental impact than processes for heat-treated products. The mesh is not susceptible to weather, is virtually maintenance-free and has an indestructible life cycle.
Much of the garage’s construction waste was recycled and a significant portion of the garage labor and materials, including the Cambridge, Maryland-manufactured mesh, was sourced regionally.
In addition, USG’s new “Green” garage generates onsite renewable energy from the photovoltaic panels and features energy efficient LED lighting.
Green Garage Certification is the world’s only rating system defining and recognizing sustainable practices in parking structure management, programming, design, and technology.
“It was important to the Universities of Shady Grove that we pursue the Green Parking Council certification so the facility becomes part of their total ‘green’ campus.”
Founded as a regional center for the University System of Maryland in partnership with Montgomery County, USG brings together nine of Maryland’s leading universities on one campus.
The garage, funded by Montgomery County, is the campus’s second parking structure. It will help pave the way for USG’s Biomedical Sciences and Engineering Education Facility to be completed in 2018.
The Parkade's Design Build Contractor was Donley’s, Richmond, VA. The Cambridge mesh systems installer was Crystal Steel Fabricators, Delmar, DE.