ONE MARKET SQUARE

THE PARKING GARAGE AT ONE MARKET SQUARE IS DESIGNED WITH FUTURE NEEDS IN MIND AND IS THE FIRST PHASE IN A LARGER DEVELOPMENT THAT ALSO INCLUDES PLANS FOR A 40+ STORY CLASS-A OFFICE TOWER.

WITH A TOTAL OF 11 LEVELS, NINE ABOVE GRADE AND TWO BELOW, THE PARKING GARAGE PROVIDES OVER 900 SPACES IN A ONE-WAY DOUBLE-THREADED HELIX DESIGN. THE SITE SPANS A FULL CITY BLOCK WITH THE PARKING STRUCTURE OCCUPYING HALF OF IT, AND THE REMAINDER RESERVED FOR A FUTURE TOWER. FOR THE GARAGE TO BE SUCCESSFUL, GENSLER'S DESIGN TEAM HAD TO CAREFULLY CONSIDER SEVERAL COMPLEX ASPECTS DURING PLANNING AND DESIGN, INCLUDING HOW THE STRUCTURE WILL BE INTEGRATED INTO THE FUTURE BUILD OUT OF THE TOWER. THE GARAGE IS DESIGNED TO BE EXPANDED INTO AND BECOME THE PODIUM OF THE PLANNED OFFICE BUILDING.

AN IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION DURING DESIGN WAS CONNECTING TO HOUSTON'S DOWNTOWN TUNNEL SYSTEM—WHICH LINKS 95 CITY BLOCKS AND SPANS OVER SIX MILES LONG. WITH THIS NEW CONNECTION, THE GARAGE ESSENTIALLY EXTENDS THE CITY'S TUNNEL SYSTEM TWO BLOCKS NORTH OF ITS CURRENT ENDING POINT. GROUND-FLOOR RETAIL ACTIVATES THE STREET LEVEL AND INCLUDES SPACE FOR THREE RETAIL TENANTS, WITH A FOCUS ON QUICK SERVICE FOOD AND BEVERAGE OPTIONS.

DESIGNED WITH THE FUTURE IN MIND, THE GARAGE CAN BE EXPANDED VERTICALLY WITH AN ADDITIONAL TWO LEVELS OF PARKING. ON TOP OF THIS, ANOTHER AMENITY FLOOR CAN BE ADDED, WHICH CAN ACCOMMODATE A VARIETY OF USES INCLUDING A BALLROOM, TRADING FLOOR, FITNESS CENTER, OR A GREEN ROOF DECK. THE TWO LEVELS OF BELOW GRADE PARKING ARE VIP RESERVED SPACES, WITH A SEPARATE ENTRANCE, ENHANCED SECURITY, AND MORE DIRECT ACCESS TO THE TUNNEL SYSTEM. FUTURE PLANS CALL FOR VALET SERVICE.

ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS, LIKE A BOLD BLACK PLASTER FINISHED FRAME ON THE EAST AND WEST FACADES, HIGHLIGHTS THE ELEVATION. AN OPEN STAIR WITH RED RAILINGS AND A CLEAN WHITE BACKGROUND EXPRESS THE VERTICAL MOVEMENT OF THE GARAGE. THE ARCHITECTURAL MASSING THAT HOUSES THE ELEVATOR ON THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF THE GARAGE EXTENDS FROM THE SIDEWALK UPWARD TO FORM THE HIGHEST POINT OF THE STRUCTURE, CREATING A VISUAL ANCHOR THAT ACTS AS A TYPE OF WAYFINDING DEVICE.

THE GARAGE WAS DESIGNED TO MAKE SURE IT DOES NOT PRECLUDE THE FUTURE TOWER FROM ACHIEVING ITS SUSTAINABILITY GOALS. STORM WATER RUNOFF IS CAPTURED IN A CISTERN NEAR THE ENTRANCE RAMP WHICH CAN BE USED FOR A POSSIBLE GRAY WATER SYSTEM. THE GARAGE USES ALL LED LIGHTING TO HELP REDUCE ENERGY CONSUMPTION.