A parking structure is concrete from the first pier to the last curb, and almost every decision about it is a decision about durability. Cars and trucks drive across the decks every day, rain and de-icing salts reach the slabs, and the owner expects the structure to last for many years without a major repair. A garage that is poorly drained, poorly jointed or poorly cured can show cracks, stains and leaks within a few years, and fixing it costs far more than building it correctly.
In Midland the demand for structured parking comes from downtown projects, hospital campuses, airport terminals and large employers whose surface lots no longer meet the need. The structures range from a small two level deck behind an office to a multi level garage that serves a hotel or mixed use block. Some are cast in place, some use precast elements and some mix the two. We work with owners and designers to choose the method that fits the site, the schedule and the budget.
Concrete Contractors of Midland places and finishes foundations, columns, slabs, ramps and flatwork for parking structures and coordinates earthwork and utility trades. We build the pour calendar from the cure and shoring requirements, not the other way around.
Building a garage in lifts, cures and inspections
A cast-in-place garage grows in layers. Foundations and columns come first, then the first suspended deck with shoring beneath it, then the next level, repeating until the roof deck is done. Each lift has a reinforcing inspection, a placement, a cure period and a shoring removal date, and the dates must be realistic. We write them into the pour calendar and share the calendar with the general contractor and the engineer weekly.
Post-tensioned decks are common because they carry long spans with a thinner section and fewer cracks. Post-tensioned slabs require precise tendon placement, stressing after the concrete reaches strength and grouting of the ends. We coordinate the post-tensioning supplier, the testing agency and the inspector so that none of those steps waits on another.
Working at height and above the street
Garage construction involves edge protection, shoring, tall formwork and heavy equipment. We maintain guardrails at every open edge, inspect shoring daily and keep the loads on decks within the engineer's limits. Pump booms, cranes and hoists are staged to avoid public streets whenever possible, and where they cannot, we coordinate traffic control with the city.
Because garages often sit in busy areas, we plan for pedestrians. Covered walkways, barricades and flaggers protect neighbors and passers-by. Silica control, hearing protection and fall protection are part of the daily briefing, and we document each in the daily log.
Specifications that protect the structure
Parking structures carry specifications that other buildings do not: low water-cement ratios, air entrainment, tight limits on chlorides, corrosion protection for reinforcing, sealed joints and slopes for drainage. The adopted building code and the local permit office govern the design review and inspections, and the engineer of record sets the details. We read the specification before we bid and list questions in writing.
Our concrete testing and quality control plan matches those specifications. We schedule the testing agency for each placement, collect samples, record slump, air and temperature and keep break results by pour. If a result falls outside the specification, we inform the engineer immediately.
Why structured parking is in demand here
Downtown Midland shows the trend. The Hotel Santa Rita project, approved by the City Council on January 23, 2024, includes $125 million in private funds, a minimum 135-room hotel and an 800-space parking garage, and our downtown Midland experience prepares us for tight lots and busy streets. The airport area is another driver: The first phase of the Spaceport Business Park spans 50 acres at the airport's southeast edge, where the Midland Development Corporation offers ground-leased sites to aerospace and aviation users who will need parking near their buildings.
Roads influence where garages go. Loop 250 is a 12.245 mile bypass along the west, north and east edges of Midland, running from I-20, SH 158 and SH 349 in southwest Midland to I-20 east of the city. TxDOT is planning to reconstruct and widen I-20 in Midland County from east of FM 1208 to east of SH 349, about 12.8 miles, adding main lanes and new or reconfigured interchanges, with 26.3 acres of added right-of-way. Access changes of that kind can alter where owners want parking and how trucks reach the site.
The pieces of a parking structure
The work begins with foundations or drilled piers and rises through columns, shear walls, elevator and stair cores, then the suspended decks, ramps, spandrel beams, curbs and wheel stops. Elevated slabs and decks are the largest portion, and they need careful finishing, with a slope to drains and a texture that provides grip. We also install floor drains and coordinate with plumbing and electrical trades for embedded conduit and sleeves.
Owners often add finishes and sealers: traffic membranes, joint sealants, stair coatings and signage bases. These items protect the structure and are best planned along with the concrete. We provide a list of recommended maintenance items at closeout so the owner can budget for resealing and joint repair over time.
Who hires us for garages
Buyers include developers of hotels and mixed use blocks, health systems, municipalities and employers. A hospitality hotel project often depends on structured parking for guests and events, and a multifamily and mixed use community uses a podium garage to make dense land workable. General contractors and construction management firms hire us for the concrete package because the schedule depends on cure, shoring and inspection.
We stay in the conversation after award. We review shop drawings, meet with the engineer about embedded items and update the calendar as the building rises. A garage is a repetitive structure, and each level should go faster than the last, so we track cycle times and adjust crews to maintain the pace.
Plan the garage cycle with us
Send the structural drawings and the target completion date. Concrete Contractors of Midland will return a level-by-level calendar and a testing plan.
Common Questions
Should our garage be cast in place or precast?
Either can succeed, and the owner's lot shape, deadline and funding point toward one or the other. Cast-in-place gives flexibility for irregular footprints, while precast can go up quickly where crane access is good. We provide pricing for the method the design team selects and share cycle time assumptions.
How long does each level take?
Cycle time depends on the size of the deck, the post-tensioning schedule and the weather. We estimate it after reviewing the drawings, and we measure actual cycles and report them to the owner's rep so that the forecast improves as the garage rises.
How do you prevent leaks and stains?
Drainage slope, tight joints, low permeability concrete and good curing are the keys. We follow the specification, check slopes before every pour and install sealants as specified.
Is it practical to build a garage next to an occupied building?
It is feasible with careful staging. We use barricades, covered walkways, controlled truck routes and noise limits. We hold regular meetings with the neighbor's facilities staff.
Who inspects the work?
The local permit office, the engineer of record and a testing agency all play a role. We schedule inspections ahead of time and keep records of each.