Underground car park
A car park is a designated area or building where cars and other vehicles can be parked and left temporarily. In American English, it is referred to as a ‘parking lot’. Car parks are a common feature of the built environment, and often adjoin shopping centres, public buildings, schools, sports or entertainment venues, and so on.
For more information, see Car park.
Underground car parks are parking facilities that are built beneath the ground, either in the basement of a building or beneath a street. The primary advantage to this type of car park is that it can be developed in high-density urban areas where street-level space is at a premium. It is also hidden from view, and can provide enhanced security and weather protection for vehicles. However, access to and from underground car parks can be complex, as can building services such as lighting and ventilation, and they are typically expensive to excavate and construct. Security and safety measures must also be in place to prevent unauthorised access, provide surveillance and to facilitate escape in the event of an emergency.
Underground car parks can be constructed using steel sheet piles as a retaining structure, and concrete floors can be designed to stabilise the finished structure.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Basement excavation.
- Car park.
- Integrated transport system.
- Multi-storey car park.
- Planning (Subterranean Development) Bill.
- Overview of the road development process.
- Road traffic management.
- Tired of the commute? It might be time to take cars underground.
- Traffic engineering.
- Transport design and health.
- Types of road and street.
- Underground.
- Underground space.
Featured articles and news
AI-Driven automation; reducing time, enhancing compliance
Sustainability; not just compliance but rethinking design, material selection, and the supply chains to support them.
Climate Resilience and Adaptation In the Built Environment
New CIOB Technical Information Sheet by Colin Booth, Professor of Smart and Sustainable Infrastructure.
Turning Enquiries into Profitable Construction Projects
Founder of Develop Coaching and author of Building Your Future; Greg Wilkes shares his insights.
IHBC Signpost: Poetry from concrete
Scotland’s fascinating historic concrete and brutalist architecture with the Engine Shed.
Demonstrating that apprenticeships work for business, people and Scotland’s economy.
Scottish parents prioritise construction and apprenticeships
CIOB data released for Scottish Apprenticeship Week shows construction as top potential career path.
From a Green to a White Paper and the proposal of a General Safety Requirement for construction products.
Creativity, conservation and craft at Barley Studio. Book review.
The challenge as PFI agreements come to an end
How construction deals with inherited assets built under long-term contracts.
Skills plan for engineering and building services
Comprehensive industry report highlights persistent skills challenges across the sector.
Choosing the right design team for a D&B Contract
An architect explains the nature and needs of working within this common procurement route.
Statement from the Interim Chief Construction Advisor
Thouria Istephan; Architect and inquiry panel member outlines ongoing work, priorities and next steps.
The 2025 draft NPPF in brief with indicative responses
Local verses National and suitable verses sustainable: Consultation open for just over one week.
Increased vigilance on VAT Domestic Reverse Charge
HMRC bearing down with increasing force on construction consultant says.
Call for greater recognition of professional standards
Chartered bodies representing more than 1.5 million individuals have written to the UK Government.
Cutting carbon, cost and risk in estate management
Lessons from Cardiff Met’s “Halve the Half” initiative.
Inspiring the next generation to fulfil an electrified future
Technical Manager at ECA on the importance of engagement between industry and education.
























Comments
where is says "authorised access" i believe it should be "Unauthorised"
Fixed thanks