Weitz Completes Construction of Modern, New Convention Center Parking Garage in Palm Beach County

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Construction has been completed on a nine-level parking garage built by The Weitz Company to accommodate Palm Beach County Convention Center visitors and staff for years to come. The 944,000-square-foot garage replaces an aging surface parking lot used since the convention center opened in 2004.

Serving as construction manager-at-risk, Weitz far exceeded the county’s goal for using small, local and minority-owned subcontractors. Nearly one-third (29.4 percent) of the project was subcontracted to certified Small Business Enterprise and Minority- or Women-owned Business Enterprise firms. The county’s stated goal was 15 percent.

Dennis Gallagher, executive vice president and general manager at The Weitz Company, said his team strategized with Palm Beach County officials during the preconstruction stage to determine the best method of construction, not only for durability and long life of the structure, but also to maximize employment opportunities for local and small businesses.

“We decided to go with cast-in-place rather than pre-cast concrete, partly because it would utilize a larger portion of the local labor force,” Gallagher said. “It means something to us that the local men and women who helped us build this monumental project will be able to show it off to their kids and grandkids.”

Located directly behind the Palm Beach County Convention Center and its adjacent hotel, the parking garage rises more than 92 feet in height and provides 2,668 parking spaces. The structure is wrapped on two sides with decorative aluminum panels of light orange and green. On the north face, the panels were cut into contoured shapes that fit together to form a three-dimensional wave design.

Along with providing plenty of shaded parking, the garage has four elevators and office space for a valet parking service. A covered pedestrian walkway connects the garage to the convention center entrance, offering year-round protection from sun and rain.

The project was designed by Leo A Daly.