A parking demand study of Study Purpose THE .#)
DESIGNATED CANCER CENTERS The development of cancer care centers ARE AFlLIATED WITH UNIVERSITY MEDICAL outpatient cancer centers continues in response to our aging popu- centers, while others are freestanding lation and consequent increased demands centers that engage only in cancer re- was conducted to determine for health care. One particular challenge for search. Their missions typically include planners is to properly determine the num- cancer research, clinical programs, the peak period range, mean, ber of parking spaces needed without any training for researchers and caregivers, preexisting or published data regarding park- and public education and outreach. median, and 85th percentile ing requirements for outpatient cancer care s #OMMUNITY
BASED OUTPATIENT CANCER centers. In response to this challenge, Walker centers, which tend to be smaller, values of parked cars per 1,000 Parking Consultants conducted a study doc- community-based treatment centers umenting the parking requirements of this that often range from 5,000 to 50,000 gross square feet (GSF) of land use type. A major component of this ft.2 and in some cases are larger. All study includes new primary research. care is provided on an outpatient basis. building space. Providing 3.5 This study gathers data from various s #ANCER HOSPITALS WHICH TEND TO BE cancer centers, calculates parking demand larger, more comprehensive treat- or 4.5 spaces per 1,000 GSF for ratios per 1,000 gross square feet (GSF), ment centers that attract patients and provides a database that can be used from several hundred miles and focus medium/large (ⱖ15,000 GSF) or for project planning purposes. on clinical treatment on both an The following are the objectives of this inpatient and outpatient basis. These small (⬍15,000 GSF) outpatient research project: facilities tend to be about 250,000 s 4O IDENTIFY AND REPORT ON OUTPATIENT ft.2. Typical services include surgery, cancer centers, respectively, cancer center peak hour parking radiation therapy, chemotherapy, demand ratios; and supportive therapies including is an 85th percentile s 4O CREATE A DATABASE OF OUTPATIENT pain management, nutrition therapy, cancer center peak hour parking de- naturopathic medicine, oncology recommendation consistent mand ratios that employ the number rehabilitation, mind-body medicine, of parking spaces needed per 1,000 and spiritual support. with recognized and published GSF, the variable most commonly referenced by municipal codes; and The application of this study’s results industry standards. s 4O SUMMARIZE lNDINGS BY MEAN should be limited to outpatient cancer median, and 85th percentile values. care centers and should not be used for .#)
DESIGNATED CANCER CENTERS OR CANCER Meeting these objectives provides in- hospitals. formation useful to planners who project outpatient cancer center parking demand. Methodology One limitation of this study is that it This study is important to health care focuses on outpatient cancer care center planners and developers because prior parking demand and to this study, there were no published BY JOHN W. DORSETT, AICP, CPP not parking demand data regarding parking requirements for for other types of can- outpatient cancer centers. To complete cer care centers. Cancer care centers can be our primary research, we performed the CLASSIlED INTO THE FOLLOWING THREE CATEGORIES following steps: s .ATIONAL #ANCER )NSTITUTE .#) nDES- s )DENTIlED STANDALONE OUTPATIENT ignated cancer centers are institutions cancer centers located throughout that are dedicated to research into the United States. more effective approaches to prevent, s 2ESEARCHED THE FOLLOWING VARIABLES diagnose, and treat cancer. Most of for each property:
20 ITE JOURNAL / FEBRUARY 2013
– Freestanding location dedicated Table 1. Number of outpatient exclusively to oncology care; cancer centers by size. – City, state, and ZIP code; – Building GSF; and n '3& – Parking space supply. '3& s #ALCULATED THE NUMBER OF SPACES provided per 1,000 GSF. s #OUNTED THE NUMBER OF PARKED 0REVIOUS STUDIES BY 7ALKER INDICATE THAT VEHICLES DURING THE PEAK TIME OF A PARKING DEMAND AT MEDICAL CENTERS PEAKS weekday. ON A WEEKDAY DURING THE LATE MORNING s $ETERMINED THE NUMBER OF SPACES HOURS UP TO THE LUNCH HOUR AND CARRIES ON PER '3&