Client

Hillsborough County Aviation Authority (Tampa International Airport)

Location

Tampa, FL

Expertise

Aviation

Services

Architecture, Interior Design, Experiential Design and Wayfinding, Transportation and Modal Planning

Due to its centralized location and easy access to highly desirable destinations, Tampa International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the country, and passenger volumes continue to grow. The airport’s existing parking infrastructure was not capable of supporting the level of demand, and airport administration sought to proactively address the issue. Gresham Smith served as the architect-of-record for two new, six-level economy parking garages at TPA, which were strategically designed to provide comfort and convenience for travelers.

2
parking garages
5,590
parking spaces added in phase 1

The first phase of the project included a $72 million, 5,590-space garage featuring an external express ramp system designed to provide vehicle circulation for a future garage. Subsequently, Gresham Smith designed the phase-two garage which doubled the parking capacity of the facility to more than 11,000 spaces. In addition to the garages, the project included new entry and exit toll plazas with canopies, a new parking administration building, an extensive signage package, a cell phone waiting lot and a new revenue control system. The garage is also a “Smart-Garage” featuring a customer-friendly computerized space availability system.

signage with available parking spaces outside the economy parking garage at Tampa International Airport at night
the exterior of the economy parking garage at Tampa International Airport from across the street

We also created an extensive signage package for the economy parking garages, including dynamic messaging for the parking guidance system and modifications to the roadway signage on Bean Parkway. A stand-out feature of the project is the 36-square-foot super-graphic of the airport’s logo featured prominently on the side of the east garage. Both garages also have their own elevator core with wayfinding information. A cumulative effect of unique color, graphics, art, and floor patterns provides passengers with a strong sense of place to help remember where they parked.