In December 2018, Parking Structure 3 at Western Kentucky University (WKU) became the world’s 26th Parksmart-certified garage. We met up with WKU’s Director of Parking and Transportation Services, Jennifer Tougas, in January 2019 to learn about her journey to certification.

You have a B.S. in Zoology and a Ph.D. in Ecology. How did you end up in parking and transportation?

The International Parking and Mobility Institute (IPMI) recently changed the format of the Parksmart Advisor course to mimic the "flipped classroom" approach.

The Canadian Parking Association recently published an article about redefining parking as part of a broader green strategy. This article was originally published in December 2018 as "Oxford Properties’ Yorkdale Shopping Centre achieves Canada’s first Parksmart certifications," by Mark Hutchinson, vice president, GBCI Canada for the Canadian Parking Association. Read the full article.

Cities are increasingly responsible for taking on the challenges of pollution, violence, economic opportunity and climate change. With the majority of the global population living in or shifting into cities, they are being tasked with creating places that are more inclusive, sustainable, resilient and safe.

What’s in a name? Everything—especially for an organization like the International Parking Institute, whose identity and mission have transformed profoundly since its 1962 founding. Which is why, after much consideration and widespread support from our membership, we have changed our name from the International Parking Institute (IPI) to the International Parking and Mobility Institute (IPMI).

Across seven countries and 22 U.S. states, there are more than 137,000 parking spaces registered under the Parksmart program. Parksmart has now reached its 100th registration—St. Armands Parking Garage, in Sarasota, Florida, brought Parksmart to this milestone. While this is a great achievement for Parksmart, what does it mean for you?

Spanning more than 2 million square feet and 270 stores, Yorkdale Shopping Centre, located in Toronto, Canada, holds the country’s largest collection of designer labels and luxury brands, the best in home décor and tech, and now, Yorkdale Parkades E and G—the first two retail Parksmart certifications in the world.

Greenbuild is the world’s largest conference and expo dedicated to green building. Hosted November 14–16 in Chicago, the conference draws industry leaders, experts and frontline professionals dedicated to sustainable building, and will offer more than 200 education sessions—including a few different ways to learn about Parksmart.

Located adjacent to PNC Park, home of the Pittsburgh Pirates and Heinz Field, home of the Pittsburgh Steelers, you’ll find Gold 1 Parking Facility—the first Parksmart Gold certification ever, as well as the first garage in Pittsburgh, and in Pennsylvania, to certify through Parksmart.