Hydraulic Parking Lifts Save Space, Money in Berkeley

Hydraulic stack-parking technology has spread throughout Berkeley in the past decade, bringing the promise of using less space to maximize development.

In a city already strapped for parking spaces, developers have turned to stack-parking technology, gaining considerable financial savings as well.

Parking ordinances in Berkeley mandate a specific ratio of new parking spaces for every housing unit built. This technology allows developers to use less space and still meet city parking space allotments.

The stacks first appeared in Berkeley eight years ago in the Panoramic Interests-built Shattuck Avenue Lofts. The installation also marked the first commercial usage of the technology in the United States.

Since then the technology has been creeping into use in Berkeley. Stack- parking is now found at the University Lofts, The Berkeleyan, the Gaia Building and the ARTech Building, all managed by Panoramic Interests.

Panoramic Interests owner Patrick Kennedy said he was driven by the benefits to install the lifts in his

buildings.

"Parking is so hard in Berkeley, people are so grateful to have space in any circumstance," Kennedy said. "They're willing to embrace a slightly unconventional system in order to have parking."

The lifts have also saved in building expenses. A conventional concrete parking structure costs $25,000 per parking space, more than double the $12,000 outlay for stack-parking, Kennedy said.

Kennedy's sentiments were echoed by Pedro Fernandez, project manager for Klaus Car Parking Systems on the West Coast.

Klaus Car Parking Systems has installed all of the lifts in the Panoramic Interests buildings and dominates the market for stack-parking in the United States.

"People in Berkeley are very open-minded and open to innovative technology that will be environmentally friendly in the long run," Fernandez said. "We let the cars share the earth and let the people enjoy it."

Imported from Europe, the technology makes possible the doubling and even tripling of parking capacity beyond that allowed by conventional concrete parking structures.

Deep pits are dug into the ground, and the parking lifts are installed above.

Registered parking space users are assigned a specific space and given keys to operate the lifts.

Users insert their keys into a "key switch controller," and turn the key depending whether they wish to raise or lower the lifts, which are hydraulically powered.

To access the top parking level of the lifts, users need simply to turn their key and wait for the structure to slowly lower into the pit, gradually bringing the top lift level to ground level.

Registered drivers whose cars are on the bottom level turn their key in the other direction, raising the stacks until their car has reached ground level.

The system allows for independent access and parking of all cars. Driving any car in or out will never necessitate the moving of another vehicle.

There are signs the technology is ready for wider adoption in Berkeley.

A recently approved apartment building on Channing Way will employ the technology in its parking garage, though the developer is not connected to Panoramic Interests.

And the city of Berkeley is investigating use of the lifts for parking in Downtown as well as in West Berkeley.

"We think it's certainly a way to provide more parking in the same amount of land area," said Matt Nichols, a senior transportation planner for the city. "It's definitely part of the tool-kit to provide parking."

Other installations are under construction throughout the Bay Area, Southern California, Oregon and Washington, Fernandez said.

Kennedy said that the lifts were well-received by residents in his buildings.

"We've used them for eight years now, and we like them very much," Kennedy said. "They're very reliable, they're easy to use, and they're widely accepted by our residents and tenants."

Users of the technology in Berkeley reported satisfaction with the systems, although some commented that raising and lowering the lifts was too slow.

"It's not very fast," said UC Berkeley sophomore Shelly Brown, a Gaia Building resident. "It's safe, and it's secure, but it's not very practical."

Other users thought the lifts were worth the wait, given the benefits they provide.

"It's a little slow, but I think it's really great because it's saving land," said Matt Donham, a UC Berkeley landscape architecture graduate student, upon using the lifts for the first time. "I think it's cool."

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