McCarthy Building Companies, celebrating 40 years of shaping the skyline in Nevada this year, recently completed an expansion to the existing Tropicana Parking Garage at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Situated at the main entrance to Thomas and Mack, the Tropicana Parking Garage expansion adds more than 1,000 covered spaces for students and visitors ahead of the new school year.
After being selected as the design builder for the project, McCarthy partnered with Choate Parking Consultants to design and construct the parking garage addition for the research university. Construction was carefully planned around the school schedule to sequence disruptive scopes, such as the realignment of the main drive aisles during the fall and summer breaks. The upfront planning of these activities ensured campus life wasn’t disturbed while school was in session. “This is truly a seamless parking project, with most end users entirely unaware that the existing garage was even expanded,” said Ross Edwards, Senior Vice President for McCarthy Building Companies. “The design-build team did an incredible job integrating the two structures and ensuring the project was ready in time for the new school year.”
The design-build horizontal expansion adds over 1,000 covered spaces and is fully integrated into the existing garage to create a seamless path of travel between the two garages. With just six inches of separation between the existing garage, which remained operational throughout construction, the safety of students and staff during the project was a top priority. McCarthy paid special attention to protecting the public and craft workers by designating walk paths, installing barricades adjacent to roadways, and re-routing student foot traffic away from the construction site.
Sustainability and technology were also top of mind on the University’s campus. Over 8,600 cubic yards of concrete were sourced from local quarries, reducing the carbon footprint of the structure. The structure was carefully designed to support a future solar system installation above level four. It also includes infrastructure to install charging stations for electric vehicles. The addition of Wi-Fi throughout the garage ensures students and staff can stay connected from their car to their class.
This phased expansion adds to McCarthy’s growing design-build portfolio, including Allegiant Stadium, Garage Mahal at Circa Resort and Casino, and the currently underway Dream Las Vegas boutique hotel. In addition, McCarthy has completed numerous projects on campus, including the world-class Hospitality Hall for William F. Harrah College in the heart of the campus.
McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. is the oldest privately held national construction company in the country – with more than 150 years spent collaborating with partners to solve complex building challenges on behalf of its clients. With an unrelenting focus on safety and a comprehensive quality program that spans all phases of every project, McCarthy utilizes industry-leading design phase and construction techniques combined with value-add technology to maximize outcomes. Repeatedly honored as a Best Place to Work, McCarthy has been operating in Nevada since 1973. McCarthy is 100 percent employee owned. For additional information, visit www.mccarthy.com.