TrueGrid Permeable Parking Installed at Office in Uptown New Orleans
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Physicians Trust LP wanted to expand its parking lot at the Napoleon Medical Office Building, and the group wanted to stay clear of going with traditional concrete or asphalt paving. The owners wanted to install a permeable parking surface to provide added benefits such as stormwater management for the surrounding neighborhood.
So Corporate Realty called QSM to inquire about TrueGrid®. After comparing TrueGrid® with other options, they went with a TrueGrid® permeable paving system for the new lot located at 4325 Clara St.Durr Heavy Construction installed the parking surface and provided construction project management. QSM provided TrueGrid permeable parking, and served in the role of quality control while working as liaison between Durr and the customer.
At almost 12,000 sq ft, it is one of the largest permeable paved parking lots in the area.
Terry Nunez, of Corporate Realty, says: “I had seen TrueGrid one day while having lunch at Parkway Bakery in Mid City, and I thought to myself, … Wow! What’s this? This would make a nice surface for the parking lot on Clara St.”
Nunez called his customers, they talked about the benefits of choosing TrueGrid® instead of traditional asphalt or concrete overlays, they talked about choosing TrueGrid® over other permeable paving options, and their decision was made to install TrueGrid permeable parking.
“Hands down,” says Nunez, “TrueGrid was the best choice from the perspective of cost, maintenance, and aesthetics.”
Nunez says cost was a primary factor, but also said ongoing maintenance costs were a close second. He and his customer knew they wanted to install a permeable parking surface, and they looked at alternatives to TrueGrid such as permeable concrete, their choice was made easier when they realized the annual maintenance costs required to upkeep permeable concrete vs. a TrueGrid permeable parking solution — “maintenance with TrueGrid® is very low,” says Nunez.
The difference is in the construction and materials. The design of a TrueGrid permeable parking system is unique to each site. Characteristics such as soil condition and hydrology determine specifics. In general — TrueGrid® lots are built by preparing the sub base, installing a layer of geotextile fabric or geogrid, then installing and compacting a layer of washed #57 stone. The next step is to place TrueGrid® on top, where it’s finished by filling the HDPE pavers with an appropriate washed stone. This creates an attractive-looking, walkable, and permeable surface.
Rainwater easily passes through the top layer of compacted, washed stone, and this allows TrueGrid parking lots to act as a giant stormwater detention system. Water runoff trickles through the layers — mimicking the site’s natural hydrology — rather than rolling into the surrounding streets and storm drains.
Nunez was keen to point out, “With permeable concrete most people don’t think of the costs that pile up after installation. I was aware of this; we knew we would constantly have to clean or vacuum permeable concrete, and even then, we still would lose approximately 50% of its permeability in about five years. This won’t happen with the TrueGrid® surface, and that’s why we chose to order it.”
Not only is the new parking lot highly functional, it also is attractive. So much so that neighbors, customers, and employees all have made mention of the new surface. One person made a comment to Terry, saying, “I know it’s just a parking lot but when I look out on it it’s just beautiful, it’s different.”
TrueGrid permeable parking is different, it’s a smart solution for a city in need of smart drainage solutions, and it’s one of the lowest cost ways to improve stormwater management on commercial and residential properties across the metro area.
Do you have a new construction project that requires parking? Do you have a renovation project that requires parking or walkways? TrueGrid is an excellent choice.
Call QSM at 855-469-2015, and tell us about your project — we’re the exclusive distributor of TrueGrid® in Louisiana.