Added Benefits to Campus and Community
Michael Bruder, executive director of facilities, planning and design at 91ֿ, said that in addition to the parking deck’s many benefits, most of the cars parked there will be covered and shielded from the sun, rain, snow and other inclement weather. He also said the deck’s location offers convenience.
“It’s located close to East Main Street, which is a large state route that is expected to be turned into a tree-lined boulevard in 2024,” Bruder said. “Walking distances are very convenient to the buildings in the area. The parking deck helps with the transformation of this area per the master plan and also provides convenient parking for our performance arts venues.”
In terms of its design, Bruder said the parking deck will be built into the hillside to minimize visual impact to the campus and neighborhood. The university is working with Payto Architects of Cleveland, Ohio, to design the cast-in-place concrete structure that will have brick accents to match the new College of Business Administration building.
Another feature of the new parking deck is that it will offer multiple access points.
“There are three ways into the parking deck and three ways out from three different levels – off Midway Drive on the first level, off Main Street on the second level and off Theatre Drive on the third level,” Emling said. “This will help manage the traffic flow since you have different ways to get in and out from different levels. And with it being a larger structure, there is a greater chance of finding an open space.”
Emling said that the university is working with the Portage Area Regional Transportation Authority (PARTA) to make sure there are bus stops in the area of the parking deck.
“Access to the transportation system should be pretty convenient,” he said.
Let the Transformation Begin
The parking deck is the first major construction project to create a new signature gateway to the Kent Campus. The project is outlined in Phase One of the university’s 10-year facilities master plan called the Gateway to a Distinctive 91ֿ, or the Kent Gateway Plan. Developed with input from students, faculty and staff as well as Kent community members, the plan aims to transform the Kent Campus to better serve the needs of students and the entire 91ֿ community.
Watch the video below that shows the new parking deck and changes to the Kent Campus as part of the facilities master plan.
The parking deck is being constructed first to minimize disruption and inconvenience for students and the university community. Once construction begins on the College of Business Administration building, surface parking lots along Main Street will be removed. The parking deck provides a net increase of more than 200 parking spaces after the removal of the surface lots.
“This parking deck is needed to realize the rest of the Kent Gateway Plan,” said Dean Tondiglia, chief of 91ֿ Police and director of public safety, who oversees Parking Services. “We’ll need to relocate parking in the College of Business Administration building footprint to go into that deck. With the College of Business Administration coming to the front of campus, we’ll be bringing new people to that part of campus.”
In addition to the parking deck, the transformation of the area includes closing Terrace Drive from Main Street and realigning approximately 2,250 feet of roadway to connect to Midway Drive. Landscape, green space and pedestrian improvements will also help create the reimaged central gateway to the Kent Campus and extend the iconic Front Campus landscape.
The new roadway system will provide direct access to the new College of Business Administration building and other facilities in the area, the Main Street parking deck and White Hall. A 91ֿ-branded sign at the main entry intersection will welcome students and visitors.
Preserving the Past
In the original master plan, the parking deck was to be situated where the Williamson House stands. The former residence of the university president and now the home of the Women’s Center and the Center for Sexual and Relationship Violence Support Services will instead be preserved and remain where it is.
The location of the parking deck has been moved back from Main Street to be situated between Williamson House, Nixson Hall and the Center for the Performing Arts. Tucked in the hillside, the new location also preserves a large grove of mature trees along Main Street.
The nearby Carriage House will be removed to make room for the new parking deck. Built in approximately 1920, the Carriage House is currently being used by the Grounds crew to store equipment and stage staff out of the building. It also houses some custodial offices in the area. These operations will be relocated as part of the area’s overall transformation.
All of it is good news to Perales, who admits she was surprised that the university considered building a parking deck but feels the additional parking spaces will help the campus community, particularly commuter students who sometimes struggle to find open spaces with their “C” parking permits.
“I think it will be beneficial if they (the spaces in the parking deck) are open to individuals with ‘C’ passes as those are the people who struggle the most to find a spot near White Hall,” she said.
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Caption for Gateway Area Site Plan:
The rendering shows the location of the new parking deck and the realignment of Terrace Drive at 91ֿ.
Media Contacts:
Eric Mansfield, emansfie@kent.edu, 330-672-2797
Emily Vincent, evincen2@kent.edu, 330-672-8595
