Hoboken, 314 spaces
NEW JERSEY, USA
In 1999, Robotic Parking Systems played the central technical and operational role in the creation of America’s first fully robotic parking garage for the City of Hoboken, a 314-space facility located at 916 Garden Street, Hoboken, NJ. This landmark project was ambitious and pioneering, introducing automation technology that had never before been implemented in the United States—or globally—at this scale.
Robotic Parking Systems supplied the specialized automation—software, mechanical systems, and robotics—that enabled vehicles to be moved and stored in three directions simultaneously, without human intervention. This was groundbreaking for U.S. parking facilities at the time, setting a new technological benchmark for urban mobility.
Developer: City of Hoboken, New Jersey | Architect: Architectura | Year Completed: 2002 | Operations & Maintenance: 2002-2006
Property Type
Residential
Parking Levels
7
Parking Spaces
314
Peak Capacity
122 cars/hr
IMPLEMENTATION
The Hoboken Garage, completed in 1999 at 916 Garden Street, was the first fully automated robotic parking facility in the United States, accommodating 314 cars within a compact urban footprint where traditional ramp garages were not feasible. Robotic Parking Systems provided the complete design, engineering, and installation of the proprietary automation technology, which moved vehicles in three directions simultaneously without human intervention.
The project involved blending the garage seamlessly into the residential streetscape with a carefully designed façade, making it indistinguishable from the surrounding architecture rather than revealing its automated nature. Implementation posed significant challenges, including the installation of nearly 500 tons of structural steel and robotic machinery in a dense residential section where road closures were limited and construction had to be completed swiftly, as no alternate parking was available for residents at the time.
This required peak levels of engineering planning, coordination, and precision execution to deliver the facility. In addition to developing and maintaining the software, controls, and safety interlocks, Robotic Parking Systems also operated the garage at launch, ensuring smooth performance and reliability. By holding the intellectual property and introducing innovations that enhanced safety, user experience, and urban efficiency, this pioneering project not only showcased the feasibility of automated parking in dense neighborhoods but also set a lasting benchmark and legacy for future robotic parking developments across the United States.
…it has been easy and trouble free – very pleasant – and the closest we will come to a driveway in Hoboken.…
… It’s such a pleasure to park and walk across the street to my apartment. I’ve been timing how long it takes to retrieve my car, and it’s been about 1 1/2 minutes (not bad at all – ‘smiley face’) … This garage … is (a) great addition to the neighborhood…
…I’d give up food before I’d give up this garage.…
…it has been very good … Today there were 3 of us in a row retrieving cars, and everything ran smoothly.…
INNOVATION
In the late 1990s, when robotic automation was still a fresh and futuristic concept, Robotic Parking Systems pioneered a breakthrough by designing and implementing the first fully automated parking garage in the United States. At a time when urban parking solutions were limited to conventional ramp-based structures, this project introduced a bold new approach—using advanced software and robotic machinery to move vehicles seamlessly in three dimensions without drivers. The concept was entirely new to the public, yet it was immediately embraced by users because of its convenience: it offered the experience of a premium valet without the need for a valet, where cars could be dropped off effortlessly and retrieved within minutes.
For residents, the system also delivered added value by storing vehicles in a secure indoor environment, fully protected from heat, snow, and harsh weather. This combination of innovation and user-centered design demonstrated the immense potential of automated parking to transform urban life—maximizing land use efficiency, reducing emissions from idling and circling, and enhancing safety by eliminating pedestrian-vehicle interaction.
The Hoboken Garage became more than just a functional facility; it was a proof of concept that reshaped how cities, developers, and architects viewed parking. Its success in the 1990s not only set a historic milestone but also laid the foundation for the widespread adoption of automated parking as a sustainable and scalable solution for the cities of the future.
During the construction and commissioning period, local writer Jeff Faria independently followed the developments related to the garage for the Hoboken Reporter, and issued his report here. A summary of the politic developments related to the garage and their outcomes can be found here.
Two years after commercial operations began, Parking, the National Parking Association magazine, published the report Automated Parking: Two-Year Report Card. Click here to read the report.
Today, computer logs of close to 700,000 transactions in the automated parking garage show an “up time” over four years of continuous 24/7 operation of 99.99%. Occupancy of the 314 space Hoboken facility is above 300 cars.
SOLUTION
The best technical solution offered by Robotic Parking Systems for the Hoboken Garage was its proprietary robotic automation system—a seamless integration of software, controls, and mechanical machinery that enabled vehicles to be stored and retrieved in three directions simultaneously. This eliminated the need for ramps or human handling, delivering unmatched efficiency, safety, and space optimization.
By combining precise engineering with user-friendly design, Robotic Parking created a solution that not only fit within the dense residential neighborhood but also elevated the parking experience to a premium, valet-like service without a valet.
The Hoboken project remains a cornerstone of automated parking in the U.S., marking the first time robotic parking was deployed in an American city. Its success demonstrated the viability of automated solutions in dense urban environments and set standards for future developments nationwide. Robotic Parking’s foundational role in Hoboken paved the way for subsequent urban robotic parking systems, influencing both design approaches and municipal adoption in the decades that followed.
