Westfield Century City Introduces First Park Assist® Electronic Parking Management System in North America

CENTURY CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Customers at Westfield Century City will now spend more time shopping and less time waiting for a parking spot--55 percent less time. Westfield Century City shopping center today announced the launch of a state-of-the-art, electronic parking management system, Park Assist®. Through a high tech, but customer-friendly, series of colored lights and signage, the Park Assist system will dramatically reduce the amount of time it takes customers to find a parking spot after they enter the garage. Within minutes, customers will be out of their cars and headed to enjoy shopping, dining and entertainment.

Park Assist directs drivers from the moment they enter the garage to the closest available parking spot. Each parking space has a sensor that detects vehicles and transmits data in real time to lights and signs that immediately show open parking spots on each row and at each specific parking space. Additionally, there is directional signage at major garage intersections so customers only enter parking rows with unoccupied spaces.

A system of colored lights signify parking space location and availability:

Green--unoccupied space

Red--occupied space

Blue--handicapped space

Purple--expectant mothers

The Park Assist system is just one element of Westfield’s commitment to Century City. The Company’s New Century Plan is designed to achieve Leadership Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification set forth by the U.S. Green Building Council.

According to Park Assist, the system reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 56 percent due to fewer cars idling while waiting or searching for spaces. The system is energy efficient and employs low voltage LED lights to reduce power consumption.

The Park Assist system has had tremendous success in Europe and Australia, and in addition to the customer and environmental benefits, a study conducted by an independent consultant at Westfield Chatswood in Australia found the system allows 100 percent utilization of the parking garage, as opposed to the industry standard of 92 percent or less when drivers are unable to find the remaining few spaces. Additionally, Park Assist has found that ease of parking adds value to customers who are inclined to return more often because of the parking and shopping experience. The study also showed retail sales increasing between two and five percent, when shoppers returned more frequently.