University of Mississippi North Parking Structure

The structure’s owner is the state’s flagship and largest public research university. The University currently maintains a one-to-one ratio of parking permits to parking spaces. To replace parking recently lost to construction and provide a net gain of approximately 300 spaces, the North Parking Structure was built with 1,532 total parking spaces. Garage parking is by permit only, with free access in and out, and largely serves students residing on the north side of campus.

The structure is eight levels, the lowest two of which are stepped into the hilly terrain, reducing perceived building height while maximizing daylight and natural ventilation at all levels. The interior ramping is in the middle bay of the 3-bay structure to balance required earthwork, structurally separate the earth retention from the precast superstructure, and to preserve the horizontality of the entire perimeter façade.

The building frame is completely precast construction with long-span, field-topped double tees spanning from perimeter spandrels to interior light walls, inverted tees, and L-beams. Façade architecture consists of cut brick cast integrally with a limestone colored face mix to match the surrounding campus. Precast was selected as the structural system to provide the shortest possible site disturbance time and provide first cost economy.