NBCUniversal E.T. Parking Structure – Universal City, CA: Watson Bowman Project Feature

Adorned with classic images of everyone’s favorite extraterrestrial, the new lot stands eight stories tall and is complete with close to five thousand parking spaces, making it one of the largest on the property. The structure will allow you to enter from the 101 Freeway on the Universal Studios Boulevard side of Universal City, with long roadways leading to 24 ticketing booth lanes – the largest on site. A pedestrian bridge also connects with the new parking structure to a new entrance located to the side of Buca di Beppo.

In addition, the E.T. also houses Universal’s largest collection of electric vehicle chargers, which can be found in the underground portion of the parking structure. The underground portion – which is not yet open for public use – also houses RV and bus parking.

The structure is part of the ongoing NBCUniversal Evolution Plan announced in early 2013 which sets out to expand on the entire property and its attractions. It was built to accommodate the rise in attendance that is expected with the arrival of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter on April 7. The initial construction began in early 2014 with the demolition of the original version of E.T parking which was merely just a ground level parking area.

Building Owner: NBC Universal 

Architect/Parking Engineer: International Parking Design, Shernam Oaks

General Contractor/Builder: Morley Builders, Los Angeles

Installer: Alcal

Expansion Joint Systems: Watson Bowman Acme / BASF

Parking resources were in high demand as more than 7 million patrons visited this Universal theme park last year. This impressive 1.8 million sf nine-level parking structure utilized more than 67,000 cubic yards of concrete. Connecting to the structure are four vehicular bridges, a cast-in-place helix ramp, a two-way crescent ramp and a pedestrian bridge. Rubber coated steel expansion joints by Watson Bowman and furnished by Encore Building Products were selected as a solution to dampen the noise of cars traveling throughout the garage that could otherwise be heard in the nearby neighborhood.

Expansion Joint Products included specialty seals, gutters, drain tubes and WBO Safetyflex Plates ranging from 23″ to 29″.

Wabo®SafetyFlex  is an elastomeric hinged cover system that is ideal for pedestrian walkway areas as well as in low-speed vehicular traffic areas. Independent metal plates integral to the rubber cover allows the system to flex in response to changes in vertical displacement between opposing slabs. Used in both recessed and surface mount applications.

Stream this Watson Bowman video to learn more about WBO and how together we can be your Strongest Partner for Expansion Control Systems.