Quincy Massachusetts is a large Coastal City, a suburb of Boston, and home to a population over 100,000 people. To bring more commuters into the city, Quincy built a 4-story garage with charging stations for electric cars that is accessible from 4 major roads downtown.
There is a large paved pedestrian area surrounding the garage, and gathering space between the garage and the apartment building beside it. This civic space has trees, benches, bike racks, shaded eating areas, and a central semi-covered structure to walk through or perform in. It is paved with permeable, heavy-duty Ecoline® pavers with Umbriano® finish in summer wheat and Il Campo® finish in Heritage Brown. The permeable pavers are an environmentally conscious choice as they allow for rapid penetration of stormwater runoff. Meanwhile, the contrasting colors and textures create aesthetically pleasing patterns that assist with the visibility and memorability of the space.
The development of the garage and the surrounding area goes beyond finding a parking solution. While the new garage enhances the usability, accessibility, and sustainability of the area and brings customers to the local businesses; the space around it offers an outdoor community hub for residents and visitors to enjoy.