Dallas Museum of Art

Dallas, TX

The Dallas Museum of Art garage is an underground, 4-floor, 396 space self-park garage serving the staff and visitors to both DMA and the Nasher Sculpture Garden. The $32 million Nasher Sculpture Garden, opened in 2003, is a public park on 2.4-acres next to the DMA and exhibits outdoor sculptures arranged in five pavilions. The sculptures were donated by Raymond and Patsy Nasher from their 350-piece Nasher Collection that is generally regarded as the finest private collection of modern and contemporary sculpture in the world. The Garden attracts 150,000 new visitors each year, and DMA draws approximately 400,000 visitors per year.

PCA did not obtain this contract through a bid process. After observing our high-quality management of a garage that sits across from the Museum, DMA contacted PCA directly to take over its garage operation from the existing manager with whom they were dissatisfied.

PCA recommended and implemented improvements which have enhanced the physical facilities as well as the customer experience:

  • Installation of a new lighting system that increased efficiency and reduced utility costs.
  • Upgrade the facility with the addition of accent colors and graphics, unique to each floor, to help customers recall where they parked.
  • Improved security by adding emergency call boxes throughout the facility.
  • Consistent correlation of the parking operations with the varied need of DMA.

For the world-renowned King Tut Exhibit at the Museum, PCA worked closely with DMA staff in the development and implementation of a comprehensive parking plan to serve the significant increase in visitors. PCA operated three garages and numerous surface lots in conjunction with the King Tut event and arranged off-site parking for busses. PCA was also responsible for valet parking, including negotiating agreements to utilize off-site parking locations for the excess parking demand, especially for the grand opening, special showings and for black tie events.

From October 2008 to June 2009, attendance at the King Tut exhibit soared to more than a million visitors, plus 140,000 participants in exhibition related programs. DMA was highly satisfied with PCA’s comprehensive management of the parking logistics for this important event.