9th & Front ParkBOI Parking Garage
Stair Tower Enclosure and Elevator Modernization

Improvements that protect and extend CCDC assets while enhancing functionality and safety for all users.

View of the SE corner of 9th and Front Streets Rendering courtesy of Cushing Terrell

Background

The 9th & Front ParkBOI Parking Garage, located at 312 S. 9th Street in downtown Boise, began construction in 1998 and has served the community for more than two decades. Operating 24 hours a day, the eight-level facility provides 574 parking stalls and accommodates more than 1,000 vehicles daily, supporting surrounding residential, commercial, and historic destinations, including the Warehouse District, 8th Street, and the Aspen Loft Condominiums. The structure includes two exterior open-air stair towers and three elevators installed during the original construction in 2000. While regular maintenance has preserved safety and structural integrity, ongoing exposure to weather has resulted in visible wear. In early 2024, the Agency retained Elevator Consulting Services, LLC (now VDA, Inc.) to complete a condition assessment, which confirmed that the elevators are approaching the end of their service life and are due for modernization.

 

Project Summary

This two-part project includes modernization of the garage’s three elevators and enclosure of the exterior stair towers to enhance safety, durability, and user comfort. Elevator upgrades will replace aging equipment with updated systems that improve reliability, accessibility, and daily operations across all eight levels.

The stair tower enclosure design reflects the surrounding neighborhood’s historic character, incorporating materials and patterns inspired by downtown Boise’s railroad and architectural legacy while addressing long-term performance. Aluminum perforated metal panels will wrap the stair towers to provide weather protection, natural ventilation, fall protection, and improved visibility. Storefront glazing at elevator lobbies and main platforms, along with new overhead awnings, will reduce moisture intrusion, while ground-level angled cutbacks will preserve pedestrian circulation along the sidewalk. Visible structural elements will be repainted for consistency, and aging rooftop elements will be removed to maintain a cohesive appearance.

Through a competitive RFQ process, the Agency has selected Cushing Terrell as the design team and Andersen Construction Company of Idaho, LLC as the Construction Manager/General Contractor.

Construction is anticipated to begin in summer 2026, reinforcing this prominent downtown asset and strengthening safety, longevity, and the overall user experience.

 

Project Timeline

  • December 2024 – An RFQ was issued for Design Professionals for the Stair Tower Enclosure Alternatives Assessment
  • January 2025 – Cushing Terrel was selected as the Design Team through the RFQ process
  • February 2025 – An RFQ was issued for a Construction Management/General Contractor to modernize the elevators and construct the stair tower enclosures
  • March 2025 – Andersen Construction Company of Idaho, LLC was selected as the CM/GC
  • February 2026: Stair Tower Enclosure Design Review Submission to the City of Boise
  • Summer 2026 – Elevator modernization and stair tower enclosure begins
  • February 2027 – Anticipated completion of elevator modernization
  • Summer 2027 – Anticipated completion of stair tower enclosure

 

Contact

CCDC Project Manager, Kassi Brown, is overseeing this project.

PROJECT ELEMENTS

  • View of the SW corner of 8th and Front Streets
  • View of the SE corner looking down Front and 9th Streets
  • Closeup of stair tower material

PROJECT RESOURCES

Design Review Drawings

CCDC STAIR TOWER – DESIGN REVIEW DRAWINGS