Impark awarded parking management at historic Fort Mason Center in San Francisco

VANCOUVER, March 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ - Impark, one of North America's largest parking operators, announced today it has been awarded the management of the parking operations at historic Fort Mason Center, a 13-acre arts and culture campus on the San Francisco waterfront.

The award of the management contract follows Impark's involvement with West 8, an international urban design and landscape architecture firm, in a winning entry for a competition for the re-design of Fort Mason Center announced in December, 2012.  West 8's design proposed seven key strategies to promote and enliven the campus including improving pedestrian access and parking facilities.

Impark's innovative approach to operating the parking facilities includes the conversion of the traditional pay-on-exit cashiered facility to a modern automated operation.  The program is intended to ease existing congestion at this event-driven venue, while reducing on-going parking operating expenses.  Fort Mason Center hosts more than 1,500 events annually, ranging from art/cultural shows, major concerts, to private events.

"Impark's credentials in the local market, and their ability to present an innovative parking approach that promises to enhance the experience of visitors to Fort Mason Center, as well as show added value to the Center's management, were clear factors in the parking contact award," said Rich Hillis, Fort Mason Center Executive Director.  "Fort Mason is an iconic local military landmark, and we are excited to be part of the enhancement of the Center as a cultural and artistic destination," commented Jim Hornback, Impark's Director of Business Development.

Impark commenced operation of the Fort Mason Parking facilities on March 1^st, 2013.

About Impark

Imperial Parking Corporation (Impark), with U.S. headquarters in Philadelphia, PA and corporate headquarters in Vancouver, B.C., Canada, is one of the largest parking management companies in North America with approximately 2,400 locations and over 4,000 employees. Impark operates approximately 45 parking facilities in the San Francisco area, including parking for the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park, and a number of City of San Francisco owned properties including the Fifth & Mission and Golden Gateway garages.

For more information visit www.impark.com.

About Fort Mason

For over 35 years Fort Mason Center has served as a unique community destination in San Francisco, hosting arts and cultural events, organizations, and programs in historic warehouse buildings and piers along San Francisco's scenic northern waterfront. It is an extraordinary example of repurposing former military land and buildings for contemporary uses, including museums, performance spaces, and a vibrant schedule of art and cultural exhibitions and events. Located just inside San Francisco Bay, Fort Mason Center is part of the National Park Service's Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

For more information about Fort Mason Center visit www.fortmason.org.

About West 8

West 8 is an international office for urban design and landscape architecture, founded by Adriaan Geuze in 1987. Over the last 25 years West 8 has established itself as a leading practice with an international team of 75 architects, urban designers, landscape architects and industrial engineers. With a multi-disciplinary approach to complex design issues, West 8 has extensive experience in large-scale urban master planning and design, landscape interventions, waterfront projects, parks, squares, and gardens. They also develop concepts and visions for large-scale planning issues that involve global warming, urbanization, and infrastructure.

For more information about West 8 visit www.west8.com.

SOURCE Impark