San Diego Community College Parking Structure

San Diego Community College District (SDCCD) is primarily a commuter college with increased enrollment leading to more traffic and parking problems. The hot-dip galvanized structures helped save space, and made parking more convenient, thus providing an opportunity for installation of solar panels that save money. Parking structures are susceptible to damage from vehicles, but this potential problem is minimized with the durable attributes of hot-dip galvanized (HDG) steel. The square tubing support structure as well as the fasteners and brackets were hot-dip galvanized for the increased sustainability and durability.

The long life expectancy of hot-dip galvanized steel provides peace of mind...

Budget constraints require SDCCD to focus on efficient and effective use of resources to provide long-lasting facilities on their campus. The HDG coating provides a surface harder than the base steel, which leads to a surface more resistant to scratches and dents that would lead to corrosion. The long life expectancy of hot-dip galvanized steel provides peace of mind to SDCCD it will be virtually maintenance-free and satisfies the necessity of public facilities to be cost-efficient for many years to come. Additionally, 100% of the structural materials (zinc and steel) are recyclable. Due to the size and number of parking structures, both on Mesas campus as well as among all SDCCD campuses, maintenance costs are a valid concern. Considering the challenges of reduced public school budgets and the expected maintenance requirements of painted or powder coated surfaces, hot-dip galvanizing was the most economical solution.