In today’s increasingly dense urban environments, architects are being pushed to do more with less — less space, less time, and less margin for error. Parking, often one of the most cumbersome and restrictive elements of any project, can dictate the entire design layout. But what if it didn’t have to?
Enter Automated Parking Systems (APS) — a tool not just for developers or city planners, but a powerful asset in the hands of architects. When leveraged early in the design phase, APS enables teams to reclaim valuable square footage, maximize programming flexibility, and streamline architectural outcomes that wouldn’t otherwise be possible with traditional parking.
The Challenge: Parking Limits Your Design Potential
In a traditional garage design, architects are constrained by:
Ramp configurations
Drive aisle widths
Vehicle turning radiuses
Stair/elevator cores for vertical circulation
These constraints eat up floor area, restrict layout options, and often lead to awkward compromises — like sacrificing leasable space, placing loading docks in inconvenient spots, or elevating ground-floor amenities.
APS removes these barriers.
What is APS — and Why Does It Matter for Architects?
Automated Parking Systems use mechanical lifts, conveyors, or shuttle technology to move cars into stacked positions without the need for drivers to maneuver them. This means you eliminate the need for ramps and wide aisles and instead design parking as a modular volume, rather than a floor-by-floor traffic pattern.
APS for Architects = Freedom in Design
With APS, architects can:
Reduce the parking footprint by up to 60%
Reallocate space to retail, amenities, or landscape
Avoid difficult site geometry restrictions
Improve pedestrian and urban-facing layouts
And all of this without compromising code requirements or capacity targets.
Design Benefits of APS in Architectural Planning
1. Parking Design Flexibility
APS gives you the flexibility to design around what matters most — the user experience, street interaction, and the program needs of the building — not just vehicle flow.
Instead of wrapping a building around a central garage, APS lets you tuck parking into tight, narrow, or oddly-shaped spaces.
You can easily integrate underground, ground-level, or rooftop configurations, depending on the project’s needs.
This type of parking design flexibility is especially valuable in:
Urban infill lots
Mixed-use properties
High-end residential towers
Adaptive reuse developments
2. Reclaim Valuable Square Footage
By removing ramps and reducing clearances, APS can save developers thousands of square feet — and that space becomes a design opportunity.
Add units
Expand lobbies or amenity areas
Increase retail frontage
Improve loading access and circulation
Preserve existing facades in historic districts
It’s a win-win: better efficiency for developers and greater architectural potential for designers.
3. Enhance Site Aesthetics and Pedestrian Flow
Traditional garages, especially podium styles, tend to dominate the streetscape with large blank walls, vehicle access points, and ventilation grilles.
APS allows for:
Smaller garage entries
Discreet integration of parking behind active uses
Improved urban facades without sacrificing functionality
This is especially important when designing projects that must align with form-based codes or neighborhood architectural guidelines.
Seamlessly Integrate APS in Design Workflows
We understand that APS can sound “technical” or “mechanical,” but in reality, it’s designed to complement architectural workflows — not complicate them.
At Harding APS, we partner directly with architects early in the design process to provide:
CAD files and BIM-ready models of all our systems
Load specs and architectural integration diagrams
Zoning/permitting support
Collaboration on fire access, egress, and ADA compliance
Our goal is to make it easy to integrate APS in design from day one, without interrupting your typical documentation process, whether you’re using stackers, puzzles or fully automated parking systems.
Real-World Use Case: Flexibility in Action
Project Type: Urban mixed-use development
Location: San Diego, CA
Challenge: Sloped site with limited access and tight zoning restrictions
Traditional Layout: Required a 3-level garage with ramps and 60-foot setbacks
APS Solution: Integrated a 2-level robotic system that eliminated the ramps and reduced the parking footprint by 40%
Results:
Gained an extra 3,000 sq. ft. for retail and tenant amenities
Streamlined circulation for pedestrians and delivery traffic
Cut parking-related construction time by 5 weeks
Align with Green Building Goals
More and more, APS is being recognized as a sustainability-enhancing strategy — especially in LEED-certified projects or cities with climate-forward building codes.
Benefits include:
Reduced carbon emissions (no ramp circling or idling)
Smaller energy footprint (less lighting and HVAC required)
Smarter land use (more green space or permeable surfaces)
When you incorporate APS, you're not just designing smarter — you're designing greener.
What Architects Are Saying
“APS gave us options. We weren’t locked into a conventional garage structure, and that allowed our client to monetize the design in new ways.”
“We got to keep the ground floor completely retail-facing. That alone made APS worth it.”
Ready to Elevate Your Next Design?
If you’re exploring complex sites or seeking creative solutions, APS could be the design lever you’ve been waiting for. Our team can help determine what type of automated parking solution is best for you.
Our team is happy to:
Review your current layouts
Provide APS system recommendations
Deliver CAD/BIM packages for early integration
Schedule a Free Discovery Call today and see how APS can unlock your design potential.