Name: Watry Design, Inc.
Price range: $

The iconic former Sunkist corporate headquarters is getting a new life as a mixed use development. In addition to preserving and updating the memorable concrete office building, developer IMT Residential is transforming the surrounding parking lot into retail and residential space.

When complete, Citrus Commons will feature 298 residential units, including 25 designated as affordable housing; 39,240 square feet of retail space and 127,000 square feet of office space.

As the new development would take the place of the existing surface parking, structured parking was needed to meet demand. Watry Design was asked to work with architect Johnson Fain to develop solutions that would meet users’ needs and work within a challenging site.

A two-level below grade structure will provide parking for residential and retail users. In order to fit the amount of parking needed on the constrained site, the team explored several different layouts to maximize efficiency. Separate entrances to the facility will direct retail users away from residential parking.

Office users will park in a 470 stall garage. The five level structure had a very narrow footprint, which created massing concerns. To mitigate the building height, two levels will be below grade. The team also worked to find a solution that would accommodate two parking bays within the narrow footprint. As only one side of the structure provides limited sidewalk access, the Watry team developed a parking layout that would not only accommodate accessible parking and path of travel, but also accessible charging stations.

The parking facilities will feature an RFID system to provide access for office employees and residents, as well as pay-on-foot stations for visitors and retail customers. Twenty percent of the structure’s stalls will include infrastructure for future EV charging stations, with approximately 55 chargers in operation on day one.

Owner: IMT Capital, LLC
Design Architect: Johnson Fain