Standing at the top of the LaSalle parking garage the first word to come to mind is expansive. From the bottom looking up the colossal structure is almost impossible to take the structure in its entirety from the street view. However, despite the seven stories it contains it is not as tall as one might expect from a seven story building. This is an aspect of function that allows more vehicles to use the space with less material. So the imposing nature of the building is likely due to its hefty latitudinal qualities as well as the almost entire concrete façade. The strong visual component of concrete adds weight to this structure as well as a cool tone to the overall feel of the space.
The next word that comes to mind is order. The entire design has a box-like quality that is broken up into several planes that each defines the spaces of their respective floors. The large flat floors give a strong horizontal reading as they convey adjacent space. Ramps in the center lead vehicles up and down the structure but they also serve as reveals to the floor beneath. Also the design is nearly symmetrical; this factor alone gives a strong indication of controlled space.
Some may see the parking garage as absent of design as it is rather plane in nature. At first encounter the large open space holds many of the same void-like qualities as that of a blank piece of paper. However, this is not the case. Although this structure was designed with a utility first kind of program an architect still designed it to relate to the context of its site. Simple nuances serve to tie the garage to its surroundings. The longer I stare at it the more visual signs of this are evident.
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