Can you explain the 25’ wide drive aisle for sq/ft calculations for parking space?
Isn’t it 9x18 or near that dimension. Not sure if I get the explanation well.
How many square feet per parking space should be allotted during Schematic Design?
325 SF
Correct. Between 300 and 350 square feet per space will give a good indication of how large the parking lot should be. This square footages assumes each space is approximately 10’ X 20’ with half of the adjacent 25’ wide drive aisle added to the square footage.
400 SF
Incorrect. A parking lot with this many square feet per parking space would be inefficiently designed.
162 SF
Incorrect. While parking spaces are often 9’ x 18’, using this multiplier does not account for drive aisles.
200 SF
Incorrect. While parking spaces are often 10’ x 20’, using this multiplier does not account for drive aisles.
Reference: Site Planning and Design Handbook, 2nd Edition, 2009
Hello @sergioclaure93 -
Perhaps our resident architect can clarify this question for you.
@coachchrishopstock
-Elise
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Hi @sergioclaure93
This question is talking about general sizing of parking lots during the schematic design phase. For example, a client’s program may require 10 parking spaces, and the architect needs to determine approximately how much total space they should allot towards the parking area, before having actually designed it. Therefore, a rule of thumb needs to be used that will factor all required space for a parking space into the calculation. 300sf to 350sf is the generally accepted value, because it takes into account the actual size of the space (whether it be 9x18 or 10x20) and also accounts for required space for drive aisles. Again, this is a ballpark figure, so whether the drive aisle is 24’ or 26’ or another width isn’t factored into the calculation at this point because it’s too early on in the design phase to have all of that information.
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