Ayrsley Parking Deck

Arysley, located in the uptown area of southwest Charlotte, North Carolina, is sandwiched in the middle of the second largest job center in the region. The highly developed area of residential space, businesses, and mixed-use retail offers its residents services and the advantage of living near downtown in a pedestrian-friendly location.

To address a lack of parking space, city officials gathered with architects and engineers to construct a parking structure in the commercial portion of the development. Requiring a quick turnaround time and a need for economical material, the steel fabricator suggested using galvanized steel for aesthetics, sustainability, and corrosion protection. Unlike many galvanized parking decks covered with a precast concrete exterior, this parking deck has exposed galvanized steel as a design feature, making it an attractive addition to the mixed-use community.

The fabricator favored the use of hot-dip galvanizing due to previous success with the product and its advantages over using painted steel. All beams, columns, angle braces, plates and connection details were coated, as well as post-tensioned cables used for safety railing between floors and outer perimeters of the structure. 350 tons of steel received HDG, and the steel structure was constructed the record time of three weeks. These benefits made galvanizing the best choice, and will keep the parking deck looking the attractive for many years to come.