The 7-level Marshall Field’s parking garage was built in 1962 and provides parking for 615 vehicles for the Marshall Field’s St. Paul store.  In 1985, the garage structure was found to have suffered major deterioration due to corrosion of the embedded reinforcing steel bars, affecting their structural integrity and the appearance of an upscale shopping facility. 

The initial restoration cost estimate was about $4,500,000.  BCG’s engineers designed and managed this 15 to 20 year restoration program at an annual budget of about $250,000, while keeping the facility in full operation. 

2002 marked the final year of the 17-year restoration program.  The parking facility is 100% restored for a total cost of $4,424,000. It will cost over 10 million dollars to build a similar size parking garage in downtown St. Paul today.   The completion of the restoration program coincides with the conversion of the old Dayton ’s Store to a new Marshall Field’s Store.  The owner, engineer and contractors successfully collaborated to complete the repair program, and added value to the property.

For the project, Buildings Consulting Group (BCG) received a Honor Award for “Engineering Excellence” from the Minnesota Consulting Engineers’ Council in 2003, and was selected as one of the “Seven Wonders of Engineering” by the Minnesota Society of Professional Engineers in 2003.