Making Shapes for San Antonio Car Park

The Village at San Antonio Center in California, replaces a 50-year-old shopping centre with a new mixed-use development, including a large multi-storey car park which is clad with a distinctive Levolux Screening Solution.

Owned by Merlone Geier Partners, The Village is located on a premier 99,000-square-metre site, which lies at the northern end of Silicon Valley, between San Jose and San Francisco. The development boasts more than twenty new restaurants, a cinema, a boutique hotel, shops and cafés, in addition to modern office space and a high-end apartment community.

The project was delivered in two phases. The first phase concentrated to the south, while phase two focussed to the north of the site.

A significant element of the project was the construction of a large multi-storey car park, designed by IPD. This was completed during phase two of the project and overlooks a central plaza. The substantial square-shaped structure, accommodates more than 1300 parking bays, divided across eight levels.

As a world-leading provider of Solar Shading and Screening solutions, Levolux was approached at the design stage of the project, to help develop an external screening solution for the multi-storey car park.

The architect’s original design concept involved the application of vertical fins to be applied across all four elevations. A screening structure was required to soften the visual impact of the building by concealing unsightly structures under a veil of curved or twisted fins.

Following an early consultation, the client selected their preferred design as one that resembles fabric, draped across the building. While this precise arrangement had not been attempted before on this scale, Levolux provided the necessary assurances to the client that the desired aesthetic could be delivered, cost effectively.

As part of its preparation, Levolux produced a range of samples of vertical fins or blades formed from extruded flat aluminium bar. These were laser cut with precision along their length, giving them the required curved profile.

Levolux scaled up the design, producing details for each elevation, with vertical fins individually profiled and arranged in a pre-approved pattern. The fins appeared to come together to create a surface, closely resembling the approved design.

Using state-of-the-art 3D design software, Levolux converted 2D images into detailed 3D illustrations of each complete elevation, which could be viewed from any angle. The 3D visuals provided an exciting glimpse of what would soon become the completed parking structure.

The custom screening solution supplied by Levolux, comprises more than 1800 vertical fins, each formed from 15mm thick, extruded aluminium plate. The fins, which have a maximum width of 600mm and a length of up to 3.1 metres, are individually laser cut along their length to create the required curved profile. Working to very small tolerances, Levolux ensured all vertical fins were aligned perfectly, set at 510mm centres.

To enhance the overall aesthetic, Levolux supplied all vertical fins for the project in a highly durable and attractive silver-grey powder coating.

Levolux supplied first fix brackets and secondary extruded aluminium fixings, allowing the profile-cut vertical fins to be fitted quickly and easily. As the installation became complete, the full effect of the vertical fins could be taken in.

The delivered screening solution successfully translates the original design concept into a visually impressive, yet cost-effective architectural feature.

Now fully complete, The Village at San Antonio Center is proving to be a very popular destination for residents and visitors, with its impressive array of community amenities. One of the critical elements of the scheme was the provision of sufficient parking. Thanks to the distinctive external screening solution provided by Levolux for its multi-storey car park, this aspect of the project has exceeded expectations. For more information, please visit www.levolux.com.