Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Green Deck

"Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan has had the pleasure of an on-going professional relationship with Neumann/Smith Architecture for many years, ... The consistent creativity, expertise and integrity of Neumann/Smith has earned our respect.”

Ray Warner, Director, Facilities and Support Services Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.

The new 9-story parking deck, which consolidates all of the company’s off-site parking onto its downtown campus, is situated on the site of a previous 125-space surface parking lot.  The deck footprint is virtually identical to the original surface lot, yet provides parking for 1,808 vehicles while also housing ground-level meeting rooms, maintenance offices, and employee locker and shower facilities.

The design showcases the innovative use of the structural roof double tee system simultaneously as a structural and decorative element.  The double tees are dramatically cantilevered beyond the edges of the supporting roof beams (which are also cleverly cantilevered) and bearing walls where they are accentuated.  The effect is that the parking deck wears a “crown.”  The embedded brick structural precast load bearing walls terminate at the ninth floor to create a tall clerestory above that defines and emphasizes the cantilevered roof above.

The structure is topped with a vegetated roof, the first in the City and the second largest contiguous “green” roof in Michigan, along with a 1/10 walking path.  The BCBS Parking Deck and Campus Improvement project has received LEED Certification from the USGBC.

Best Parking Structure, Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute Award of Excellence, International Parking Institute Special Issue Outstanding Project of the Year, CAM Magazine