HCID Parking Facility, Lowell, MA

The new 253,900 square foot parking structure in the Hamilton Canal Innovation District in Lowell, Massachusetts, accommodates 900 cars on one underground and six elevated levels. This parking will serve visitors to a revitalized urban area connecting the city’s transportation hub with its core downtown, arts district, and major event venues. 

Dailey Precast’s design-assist approach was key to the success of this project’s schedule. We adjusted the schedule to accommodate a significant change: the elimination of one underground level, reducing the number of spaces to 900 with slightly shorter ceilings. The overall height of the garage is still less than 60 feet with a step-back to 40 feet near the Canal Place condominiums, minimizing shadow on the adjacent building. Concrete planters on part of the step-backed roof will screen the parking area from Canal Place.

The structure is a free-standing precast garage with exterior columns, spandrels and infills with stair/elevator cores at the ends. The overall footprint’s unique shape aligns with the property setbacks. The exterior precast facade includes a form liner finish and a metal scrim system that developed out of both the architect’s vision and community input during the permitting process. The finished design of the structure sports a modern and colorful façade framing open space in this new urban landscape.

The garage is a critical component in supporting future development throughout the 15-acre District. In addition to providing parking, the garage also features office and retail space on the street level. 

Working with first-time customer Shawmut Design and Construction, Dailey Precast put forth super efforts to erect this garage under an accelerated schedule to help address the client’s critical need for on-site parking. Precast fabrication started in September 2019, at the same time as site preparation. Precast erecting was completed over a two-month period with the first cars parking in the facility by mid-December 2020.

Click here to read more about this garage in the Summer 2022 issue of Ascent Magazine.