In 1999, Cerritos, Calif., began planning a major expansion of its municipal library that would give it 50 percent more floor space and room for 250 new Internet workstations. To handle the expected increased library traffic, the city needed to build a two-story parking garage.

Building the garage above ground would have cost $2 million less than building below ground. However, because the library is adjacent to a residential area, the city council was concerned that an above-ground garage would be aesthetically unattractive and threaten the privacy of the library's neighbors.

The city contracted with San Jose, Calif.-based MultiGen-Paradigm to create a 3-D computer simulation of both garage designs. The company gathered data, entered digital photographs into a computer, designed a database and created computer models of the garages.

Five weeks later, residents were invited to a public hearing to discuss the parking garage and to view the 3-D simulations. Attendees “walked” through the models, guided by the company using a personal computer and a projection system. They were able to view each design from different elevations and viewpoints, including a simulated view from a second-story window in a nearby house.

It was clear from the presentation that the above-ground garage would seriously compromise the privacy of the houses alongside the library. Based on that, the city council made an easy decision to build the garage underground.

The city retained a copy of the computer simulations, and city staff members were trained to operate the simulation software and to change the computer models if needed. The library addition is scheduled to open in January, and construction of the parking garage is scheduled for completion in December.