Q-Park Winner of Prestigious European Parking Awards

MAASTRICHT, The Netherlands, September 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

- Stockmann Q-Park in Helsinki, Finland / Q-Park Lyon Perrache Archives La Confluence

Q-Park is delighted with the European Parking Association (EPA) Award presented at the bi-annual EPA congress on Thursday, 15^th of September, in Turin, Italy. The award in the category 'best new car park' was won by Stockmann Q-Park in Helsinki, Finland for its particular innovative and sustainable parking solution and unusual architectural structure. A special jury award was granted to Q-Park Lyon Perrache Archives La Confluence for its sustainable and environmental features.  

Stockmann is the oldest and the most prestigious department store in Helsinki and is therefore a true landmark in Finland's capital city. Stockmann Q-Park, built 40 meters under the department store, is part of Helsinki's underground master plan and a major re-development project to create more than 10.000 square meters of new retail space. The car park, easily accessible via a 1 km tunnel from both sides of the city, offers 600 spaces on three levels serving multiple target audiences confirming the criteria of 'location, location, location' perfectly. No streets were closed for the construction which was completed in a record 39 months. The investment amounted to EUR 55 million.

Q-Park Finland Managing Director Juha Sirelius: "Enormous thanks go to Stockmann for their belief and trust in Q-Park's 'Total Quality Concept' as well as to the City of Helsinki who made the investment in the major-redevelopment and tunnel to the car park possible. This remarkable achievement confirms that Q-Park is leading in Finland as well as in Europe with 'Quality in parking'".

Ward Vleugels, CEO of Q-Park NV: "We are delighted with this fruitful partnership with Stockmann based on the quality philosophy of both our organisations and our common vision for a sustainable environment."

Q-Park Lyon-Perrache Archives La Confluence is an amazing parking facility in a challenging new development area to improve the living environment of the Perrache district and to serve Perrache station and the Municipal Archives. The parking facility provides 649 parking spaces on 8 underground levels with completely column-free parking. Each level is enlightened by a different colour in order to ease customers to find their parking space. Special features of this car park are the two vegetal walls, 22 meter high in the helicoidally ramps, designed by the famous botanist Patrick Blanc.   26 different kind of plants have been chosen for their adaptability to low-light environment and the walls are equipped with a special watering system. These green walls bring contact with the external surrounding even at the lowest levels of the car park.  

Q-Park France Managing Director Michèle Salvadoretti: "We are very grateful for this special jury award as a recognition for this innovative green concept confirming Q-Park's role in urban sustainability in Europe".

About Q-Park

Q-Park is one of the three leading providers of parking facilities in Europe, whether wholly-owned, leased, managed or in a hybrid business model. Q-Park is notable for its quality approach and has a portfolio comprising over 840.000 parking spaces and office accommodation in the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Great Britain, France, Ireland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland.

SOURCE Q-Park