Downtown parking garage under construction

An artist's rendering of the new downtown Fort Myers parking garage that is now under construction. Construction has begun on the new multi-level parking garage which is part of the new Lee County Justice Center complex. BSSW Architects Inc. designed the structure. It is one element in the massive multi-million dollar renovation and construction project for which the Southwest Florida architectural, planning and interior design firm is providing programming, master planning and design.

The five-level structure of approximately 59,000 square feet will provide covered parking for 830 cars and surface parking for a additional 270. The single-ramp, precast concrete facility will also house two county offices, with four more planned for the future. Stairwells in each corner and two elevators offer convenient access to the parking levels.

Bordered by Monroe Street to the west, Cottage Street to the east and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. to the north, the parking garage sports bicycle racks as well. Access lanes from all three arteries are planned. Extensive landscaping will provide a verdant buffer zone along Cottage Street and Dr. MLK Jr. Blvd. Live oaks, assorted palm tree species and Asiatic jasmine are the main ingredients in a landscaping mix that includes Indian hawthorn and cocoplum. Pedestrians can enjoy a rest on benches planned for the green zones.

"Moving Lee County employee parking services, as well as parking for Justice Center business, to the parking garage will free up several hundred spaces in the surrounding area for use by the general public," says Kevin M. Williams, AIA. Mr. Williams is a principal at BSSW Architects and is the project architect; Jose S. Barcelona is the lead designer. Engineering for the project was provided by TKW Consulting Engineers, Walker Parking Consultants, TLC Engineering for Architecture and McMahon Transportation Engineering and Planners. Landscape Architect is David M. Jones and Associates. The general contractor for the project is Target Builders Inc.