MDC-West Garage Construction To Start In October

After reaching a $33 million settlement on May 6, the MDC-West garage will commence construction in October 2015.

The new six-story structure is projected to house more than 2,000 parking spaces and will be connected to Building 1.

Almost three years ago, four construction workers were killed and several were injured during the Oct. 10, 2012 collapse of the previous garage while it was under construction.

That year, death and injury lawsuits were filed by the relatives of the four workers who lost their lives in the collapse which lead to a complicated legal battle.

MDC filed a lawsuit against Ajax Building Corp. in order to get them to tear down the old garage and rebuild a new one. In the lawsuit, the contractors were to be responsible for finding the funds to rebuild the old garage.

The new garage will hold an undercover courtyard for students to congregate and for campus activities and events, walkways, an enhanced outdoor activity space, outdoor seating and a sculpture garden. There is also direct connectivity to Building 1, including two covered walkways.

It will be located on the south side of Building 1 on the south corner of the campus. Students will have the ability to enter the parking garage through an entrance on the southwest and another on the southeast side of the building.

“The construction site will begin the mobilization process by mid-October,” said Ana DeMahy, executive director at MDC-West Campus. “Haskell, the construction management firm will begin bringing in equipment, and temporary trailers for offices.”

The new structure is very similar to the previous garage in footprint and parking capabilities. But the new architects have a different approach to design and therefore will create facades that compliment the existing buildings at MDC-West Campus.

The previous parking structure was completely deconstructed, including the foundation of the building. The new garage being built will not have any components from the previous building.

“At this time we have a construction timeline of approximately 18 months,” DeMahy said. “As all construction projects have some flexibility and the timeline could be extended or even shortened.”