How to choose parking facility closure solutions that are as attractive as they are reliable
By Heather Bender
Whether encountered at a suburban healthcare complex or on the streets of a major metropolis, the design and aesthetics of parking facilities convey a lot about the values of the institutions or individuals who own or manage them.
With the right design choices, a parking facility can become a visually appealing, inviting space that adds value to the surrounding community.
Parking facilities are not purely functional structures. Aesthetics are a critical component in their overall design, and because first impressions often leave lasting impressions, it’s important to weigh what the visual elements communicate to the end users. Consider what message a parking facility sends on a first look. Safety and security? Professionalism? High-end luxury?
One of the best places to start with design considerations is facility entryways. Commercial grilles and doors are often sought after for their high-performance features, and specifiers and facility managers often focus on cycle ratings, speed, and maintenance when selecting a closure system. But aesthetics are equally important, and manufacturers today offer a wide array of options that can improve the design of any parking facility.
Whether the goal is to blend in or stand out, here are a few tips to help you choose a closure solution that looks as good as it functions.
Consider the Right Closure Type for Your Application
There are three primary types of closure solutions for parking facility applications: rolling grilles, rolling doors, and sectional doors. Each offers its unique, innovative technology to improve efficiency, safety, and aesthetics for a project.
Properly insulated overhead doors meet the needs of commercial buildings that require exceptional climate control. These doors on a building at the Spokane International Airport feature polyurethane insulation, keeping the facility’s interiors cooler in summer and warmer in winter.
Rolling grilles feature interlinked metal rods that restrict access and offer security while maintaining complete visibility and airflow. They require minimal headroom and can have high cycle ratings, making them an excellent performance option for facilities with space constraints and periods of high daily traffic. Because high visibility is one of the primary benefits of rolling grilles, their design typically incorporates lots of open space in the curtain, creating sleek, minimal aesthetics that blend in with their surroundings.
Rolling doors feature steel slats that roll and coil. Like grilles, they also retract into small headroom spaces, but their slats interlock when fully closed to create a continuous curtain. This makes them the ideal option for applications that need high security and space savings while also offering aesthetic versatility and customization.
Sectional doors have hinged panels that slide upward into an overhead track. Although more common in residential applications, they can also work well in smaller parking facilities that have sufficient space, especially to meet insulation, climate control, or aesthetic demands. Like rolling doors, sectional doors also feature a continuous curtain when closed, and manufacturers offer a wide array of standard and custom design and visibility options for panels.
Color and Design Details Add a Pop of Personality
Commercial grilles and doors are typically made from heavy-duty steel or aluminum, and manufacturers offer an array of design options, including high-wear powder coats.
High-performance security grilles are designed to provide enhanced visibility and airflow while maximizing space efficiency.
Grilles can be powder-coated in a variety of colors. In some cases, manufacturers offer upward of 150 color options for both doors and grilles.
In the case of rolling doors, design options start with standard slat offerings and expand from there. Perforated slats, which feature patterns of small holes punched into the surface, provide security while allowing for natural ventilation and light. Slats with small one- or two-way vision windows incorporated into the curtain offer even more visual interest and visibility.
With their large panel surface area, sectional doors offer a world of color, finish, and visibility possibilities. Solid panels can be specified in a variety of powder-coated finishes. Full-view sections are also available for applications where natural light, visibility, and a modern look are desired. Full-view panel options include clear, frosted, full-color glass, acrylic, or solid aluminum.
Customize and Stylize
Recent manufacturing advances have enabled some commercial door makers to enhance their customization capabilities.
Ultraviolet custom printing on rolling doors enables them to complement, highlight, or even blend into a building’s design aesthetic.
In addition to hundreds of standard color offerings, custom color matching is available to suit any brand identity or design aesthetic. Custom printing and laser etching can also provide a unique look with logos, lettering, and one-of-a-kind artwork.
Customization can also be applied to perforations to create unique patterns, signage, or wayfinding.
This can be particularly beneficial for parking facilities at corporate headquarters, healthcare centers, higher education institutions, and more.
Still Not Sure? Rely on the Experts
Despite their effect on a parking facility’s look and performance, commercial rolling and sectional doors are typically a small part of a larger building project and sometimes are treated as an afterthought in the specification process. In some cases, knowing where to begin in the selection process can be a challenge.
Some manufacturers provide handy all-in-one specification portal websites that walk users through everything from closure type and aesthetic options to performance features and code compliances. Some even include fully editable specification documents and custom architectural drawings for doors. Portals like these provide a great starting place to help guide product selection and streamline the design and specification process.
Aesthetics Matter
Rolling grilles, rolling doors, and sectional doors may seem like minor components of a parking facility, but they can have a significant effect on the aesthetics of the space. By incorporating color, graphics, glass, or patterns, these closures can become design elements that enhance the overall look. When it comes to parking facilities, aesthetics matter. With the right design choices, a parking facility can become a visually appealing, inviting space that adds value to the surrounding community.
HEATHER BENDER is the director of commercial product marketing for the Clopay Corporation. She can be reached at hbender@clopay.com.
