Parking garages rarely evoke memorable experiences beyond the routine and sometimes frustrating task of finding a parking spot. Thankfully, architects and designers are rethinking these structures not just as functional necessities but as dynamic pieces of social infrastructure that enhance the journey from arrival to destination and create engaging social experiences.

Our team at SRG + CannonDesign did exactly that when designing two new parking structures for our client’s world headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon. Working closely with the client, we created campus landmarks that greet visitors and employees with a blend of form and function that captivates the senses and inspires movement and connection.

By emphasizing placemaking — and carving out significant space for pedestrian and recreational use — these new-generation parking garages offer much more than just a place to park. Inspired by the vibrant sports cultures of two iconic cities, New York City and Los Angeles, each structure embodies the spirit and dynamism of its namesake. Expansive covered courtyards serve as defining social spaces, setting these parking structures apart from all others. They also shift the sequence of a branded workplace experience from one that typically begins at a front door to one that starts before drivers leave their cars.