Cast-in-Place Reinforced Concrete Parking Structure
200 Block of US Route 90, Biloxi, Mississippi

Location: N 30.39214, W 88.86427

This four-story, five-level parking garage is constructed of cast-in-place reinforced concrete. It appears to have suffered no structural damage from storm surge in Hurricane Katrina (although substantial nonstructural damage occurred) despite that it fronts the Gulf shore, the height of its second floor (5m) would be below the apparent level of storm surge, and the ramps between floors sloped up toward the Gulf, meaning that they would experience upward pressure from waves breaking on their soffits. 

Figure 1 shows the north facade of the facility. Figure 2 reveals the structural system: one-way flat slabs on rectangular reinforced concrete beams. Its good structural performance can be contrasted with a similar facility across the street, constructed of precast concrete, that suffered partial collapse of its second-floor deck.

Figure 1: North facade of a parking structure on the Gulf coast that suffered significant nonstructural damage but no structural damage.

Photo: K. Porter (for MCEER)

Figure 2: Cast-in-place reinforced concrete gravity system of the parking structure.

Photo: K. Porter (for MCEER)

Additional Information

GIS Map

Submitted by Keith Porter and Gilberto Mosqueda
September 11, 2005

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