How Berkeley’s Center Street Garage Redefines Parking with Art and Sustainability
Berkeley isn’t just a hub for academic brilliance and progressive thinking—it’s also home to one of the most innovative parking structures in California. The Center Street Garage is more than a place to leave your car; it’s a blend of architecture, sustainability, and public art that reshapes how cities integrate parking into their urban fabric.
A New Vision for Urban Parking
Most parking garages are functional but uninspiring—gray, concrete structures that serve a purpose but add little to the cityscape. The Center Street Garage challenges that norm, offering a design that is as visually striking as it is environmentally conscious.
Designed by International Parking Design and Wong Logan Architects, and built by Overaa Construction, this eight-story structure is anything but ordinary. The folded, perforated aluminum facade, fabricated by California Sheet Metal, gives the garage a dynamic, sculptural look. By day, it plays with natural light, creating shifting patterns of shadow. By night, programmable LED lighting turns the structure into a glowing urban landmark.
Sustainability Beyond the Basics
In a city that prioritizes green initiatives, the Center Street Garage is designed to promote sustainable transportation. Instead of being solely car-focused, it encourages alternative mobility options, making it a model for future urban parking facilities.
Here’s what sets it apart:
Extensive bike storage – Unlike most garages, this one includes ample space for bicycles, making it easier for commuters to come to downtown on two wheels via the nearby BART train station, or straight from home.
On-site bike repair center – Supporting Berkeley’s cycling culture, the garage offers a fully-staffed repair station, a feature rarely found in parking facilities.
Electric vehicle (EV) charging stations – A growing necessity in modern urban design, these stations support the transition to greener transportation.
Mixed-use integration – The ground floor features a café and an art gallery, helping the structure blend into the surrounding community rather than standing apart from it.
A Facade That Transforms with Light
One of the most striking design elements of the Center Street Garage is its folded aluminum facade, installed by B.T. Mancini. Unlike traditional parking structures, which often have exposed concrete or basic metal screens, this facade is both functional and artistic.
Each side of the building has a unique identity:
Center Street facade – Clad in green perforated panels, this side reflects the greenery of nearby spaces, reinforcing Berkeley’s eco-conscious image.
Addison Street facade – In contrast, this side features red panels, creating a bold visual presence that interacts with neighboring buildings.
LED lighting integration – After dark, the garage transforms into a dynamic light installation, with programmable LEDs illuminating the panels. This feature not only enhances its visual appeal but also improves nighttime visibility and safety.
The result? A structure that doesn’t just exist in the background—it actively contributes to the urban aesthetic, engaging both pedestrians and drivers.
Capturing the Architecture: A Photographer’s Perspective
Architectural photography plays a key role in showcasing the innovation of projects like this. To capture the full scale and detail of the Center Street Garage, I used a wide tilt-shift lens, a go-to tool for architectural photographers.
One of the most challenging shots was an overall elevation view of the building. To get the perfect angle, I positioned myself inside a building across the street, shooting through a window to avoid street-level obstructions. This allowed me to keep vertical lines straight while emphasizing the height and facade details.
More Than Just a Parking Garage
The Center Street Garage is a prime example of how urban infrastructure can be both functional and inspiring. Instead of being just another concrete structure, it contributes to the city’s architectural landscape, sustainability efforts, and community engagement.
Why It Matters for Future Urban Development
The success of the Center Street Garage sets a new standard for parking structures in urban areas. Here’s why it stands out:
It encourages alternative transportation – With bike storage, a repair center, and EV charging, it promotes sustainable commuting choices.
It integrates with the community – The ground-floor café and art gallery invite public interaction, making the space more than just a parking facility.
It enhances the city’s visual identity – The combination of folded aluminum panels and programmable LED lighting transforms an ordinary garage into a public art piece.
The Future of Architectural Photography in Urban Spaces
As cities rethink their approach to infrastructure, projects like this become exciting subjects for architectural photography. Showcasing the interplay of design, function, and sustainability in a way that captures the public’s attention is key. Whether it’s through dramatic lighting, strategic angles, or unique perspectives, these images help tell the story of forward-thinking urban design.
Berkeley’s Center Street Garage proves that even a parking structure can be a model of sustainability, innovation, and artistic vision. As urban areas continue to evolve, this project stands as a blueprint for the future of mixed-use, eco-conscious design.
Key Takeaways
The Center Street Garage in Berkeley is more than a parking structure—it integrates sustainability, art, and community engagement.
Its folded aluminum facade, featuring green and red perforated panels, makes it a visually striking urban landmark.
Programmable LED lighting transforms the garage into a dynamic art piece at night.
The garage promotes sustainable transportation, offering bike storage, a repair center, and EV charging stations.
A café and art gallery on the ground floor integrate the structure into the surrounding community.
The project sets a new standard for urban parking design, blending functionality with aesthetics.
Architectural photography techniques, such as tilt-shift lenses and shooting from adjacent buildings, helped capture the garage’s scale and details.
The Center Street Garage is a model for future city infrastructure, showing how parking structures can be sustainable and engaging public spaces.