#Two-Level Car Stack Parking Solution
Explore tagged Tumblr posts
Text
Smart Two-Level Car Stack Parking Solution in Mumbai by Gubbi Enterprises
Gubbi Enterprises offers a reliable Two-Level Car Stack Parking Solution in Mumbai, designed to maximize space efficiency in urban environments. With a focus on innovation and quality, Gubbi Stack Parking Solution ensures safe, durable, and user-friendly systems tailored for residential and commercial use. Our advanced technology and expert engineering make us a trusted provider for smart parking needs, solving space challenges with efficiency and reliability across Mumbai.
0 notes
Text
Hope you're having a great day. Tandem puzzles are a great way to maximize parking density in your multifamily developments.
And, unlike conventional parking space tandems, our tandem puzzle systems can be accessed independently at the push of a button. No attendant needed. So what makes our tandem puzzle systems unique?
Well, let me give you the top ten reasons.
Number one, we offer the widest array of puzzle systems from one high to seven high systems with clear heights from five foot three inches to seven feet one inch per level.
Number two, unique in the market, We offer one to two levels of tandem pits.
Number three, we share a common leg, which can tighten the distance between the front row and the rear row. For above grade solutions, this means we are shorter in nose to tail length than our competitors. For a tandem pit, this translates into less gap filler and or minimal width for the partition wall in the pit.
Number four. For pits, we have a bridge that you can travel across to get to the rear for a smooth transition.
Number five. We can store more pounds per square foot, which translates into stowing heavier vehicles.
Number six. We offer a three high one deep tandem configuration, which is unique in the industry.
Number seven. We offer a two deep tandem pit solution, unique in the United States.
Number eight, for tandem pit solutions, we add our gap fillers around the perimeter.
Number nine, front and back sensors to prevent parking overruns and height sensors on the top level to prevent vehicle damage.
And number ten, chain tensioners that sense if there is an object in its path to stop the system.
If you click on the comments below, you will see a three high tandem puzzle illustrating how they move.
Let's design something together.
Looking forward to designing something with you soon.
Free Consultation Call at (661) 430-3244 or visit us at https://lnkd.in/g8EMe2ji
#parkingautomation #parkingautomatedsolutions #desigmcustomparking #carparkingstackers #constuctiondevelopers #parkingengineersolutions #parkingdesigns #innovativeparkingsolutions #fastroboticparking #automatedparking #parkingdevelopers #commercialdevelopers #builders #construction #parkinginnovations #carstackers #parkingstructures #roboticparking #maximizeparking #parkinginnovations #savespace #carparkingsolutions #smallspacesolution #nodewatering #smallspaceideas #parkingengineering #parkingspacesolutions #parking #newparkingsystem
Robotic Parking, Robotic Parking Garage, Puzzle Parking, Automated Parking, Automated Parking System, Automated Car Parking, Automated Parking Garage, Parking Stackers, Garage Car Stacker, Stack Parking System, Double Stacker, Triple Stacker, TAPCO, Puzzle Car Parking System, Car Parking Lift System, Lift Parking System, Car Stacker, Car Stacker Lift AGV, #AGV, #tapco, #automatedparking, #puzzleparking, #stackers
2 notes
·
View notes
Text
Finding the Perfect Car Lift in Florida: A Guide for Enthusiasts and Homeowners
Why Invest in a Car Lift in Florida?
The benefits of owning a car lift in Florida are numerous. For those who enjoy working on their vehicles, a lift provides easy access to the underside, making maintenance, repairs, and upgrades significantly more comfortable and efficient. No more crawling on a creeper or struggling with jack stands. For car collectors, a lift offers a practical solution for maximizing garage space, allowing you to store multiple vehicles vertically. This is particularly useful in areas where real estate is at a premium. Furthermore, for those who simply need extra storage, a lift can free up valuable floor space in your garage for other purposes.
Types of Car Lifts
When considering purchase vehicle lifts Florida, you'll encounter several different types, each with its own advantages and disadvantages:
Two-Post Lifts: These are the most common type of car lift, featuring two vertical posts that support the vehicle. They are versatile and suitable for a wide range of vehicles, offering excellent access to the underside. Two-post lifts are available in symmetrical and asymmetrical configurations, with asymmetrical lifts providing better door clearance.
Four-Post Lifts: These lifts utilize four posts and a platform, providing a stable and secure way to lift and store vehicles. They are ideal for storage and are often preferred by car collectors. Four-post lifts can also be used for basic maintenance, but they offer less access to the vehicle's underside compared to two-post lifts.
Scissor Lifts: These lifts use a scissor-like mechanism to raise the vehicle. They are compact and portable, making them suitable for smaller garages or for those who need a lift for occasional use. Scissor lifts offer varying levels of access, depending on their design.
Parking Lifts: Specifically designed for vehicle storage, parking lifts are typically four-post lifts that allow you to stack vehicles. They are an excellent solution for maximizing garage space.
Factors to Consider When Buying a Car Lift in Florida
Before making your Residential lift contractor Miami purchase, several factors should be carefully considered:
Lifting Capacity: Ensure the lift you choose can safely support the weight of your vehicles. Check the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of your heaviest car and select a lift with a capacity that exceeds this.
Ceiling Height: Measure the height of your garage ceiling to ensure there is adequate clearance for the lift to operate and for the vehicle to be raised to the desired height.
Garage Space: Consider the available floor space in your garage and choose a lift that fits comfortably without hindering movement or other activities.
Power Requirements: Most car lifts require electrical power. Best car lifts to buy in Florida Check the voltage and amperage requirements of the lift and ensure your garage has the necessary electrical infrastructure.
Safety Features: Look for lifts with robust safety features, such as automatic safety locks, descent control, and overload protection.
Intended Use: Determine how you plan to use the lift. If you primarily need it for storage, a four-post or parking lift might be suitable. If you plan to perform extensive maintenance, a two-post lift offers better access.
Budget: Car lifts vary significantly in price. Set a budget and explore options within your price range. Remember to factor in installation costs if you don't plan to install it yourself.
Where to Find Car Lifts and Residential Lift Contractors in Florida
Florida is home to numerous suppliers of car lifts and residential lift contractors. You can find reputable dealers and installers in major cities like Miami, Orlando, Tampa, and Boca Raton. When looking to Buy residential car lifts Boca Raton or in any other part of Florida, it's essential to research and compare different companies. Look for contractors with experience, good reviews, and proper licensing and insurance. Don't hesitate to ask for references and examples of their previous work.
0 notes
Text
Revolutionize Your Parking: Discover the Benefits of a Tower Parking System
Cities within India and around the world are changing quickly. When these cities grow bigger and new development booms, amongst this one challenge that refuses to go away is efficient parking. With this limited space and an increasing number of vehicles on the road, traditional parking solutions are no longer sufficient. Enter the Tower Parking System – a state-of-the-art, space-efficient solution tackling the parking woes of the contemporary urban landscape.
At WPS, we recognize that urban infrastructure development is nuanced and have designed our tower car parking systems to maximize space utilization, save time, and add security.
Discover how our solutions transform parking for urban developments, commercial complexes & residential spaces, all with long-term cost benefits.
Tower Parking System — What is it?
The Vertical Solution for Urban Parking Challenges
Tower parking system is a vertical, mechanized parking solution that allows for the efficient vehicle stacking in multi-level structures. This inventive system uses automated or semi-automated technology to park cars, similar to how an elevator does for people. Designed and built to maximize vertical space, these systems enable the storage of a greater number of vehicles in less physical space, making them a practical solution in urban areas with high land values.
How It Works:
In a standard tower parking system, a vehicle that pulls into the facility will be raised and positioned into one of a number of vertical parking slots. Through an advanced network of controllers and sensors, the process is seamlessly managed without human assistance. There are two main variants: Automated Tower Parking and Semi-Automated Tower Parking
Our Tower products including our flagship Slimparker 557 Tower System and Crossparker 558 are at the forefront of this evolution, equipped with state-of-the-art design and technology tailored toward the future of tower parking solutions. These systems are designed to be precise, providing an automated parking system that makes your parking not only more effective but also utilizes the space better by fitting multiple vehicles.
The Limitations of Conventional Parking
Addressing the Flaws of Traditional Parking in Urban Environments
Traditional parking solutions, be it surface lots or underground garages, are rapidly becoming a thing of the past. As they are terribly inefficient, this is especially true in (sub)urban environments, where every square meter of land counts. Here’s how and why traditional parking solutions no longer work for urban areas:
Limited Land Utilization
Urban developers and building managers need to maximize land use. Traditional parking lots need a vast amount of area, leading to massive, underutilized spaces that could be used for profit. Alternatively, tower parking systems take up minimal footprint while they park dozens of vehicles, thus maximizing land value.
Time Inefficiency
The time lost looking for a space or navigating bustling garages does not just annoy users; it exacerbates urban congestion. The automation in Wohr’s automatic parking car in India systems significantly reduces the retrieval time, ensuring vehicles are dispatched quickly and efficiently.
Security Challenges
Safety is a prime concern when it comes to a parking space. Conventional parking can leave the car vulnerable to theft, vandalism or even accidental damage. Our systems minimize the human access within multistorey parking, significantly reducing these risks. One way that users can be assured of building safety is through the use of tower parking systems, which have access to a controlled environment that keeps vehicles away from the risks of parking areas or garages.
Strategic Benefits of Our Tower Parking Systems
The benefits of using tower parking systems go beyond mere space management. Read more about how our innovative tower parking solutions are helping to add significant value to urban and commercial properties in India and other countries.
Maximum Space Efficiency
Tower parking has one major benefit: it saves space. For instance, a system such as the Slimparker 557 Tower System can park up to 60 vehicles in a vertical stack occupying space that would accommodate just 6 to 8 cars with conventional methods. For developers in crowded markets such are as Mumbai, where every square-foot matters, this is a game-changer.
Time-Saving Innovations
This means that when retrieving your vehicle, our automatic parking system will do this in an efficient manner; often taking under 3 minutes. This immediate response increases customer satisfaction in commercial complexes and residential areas, while also decreasing the time that cars spend idling or circling for their spot.
Enhanced Security Features
One of the key advantages of automated tower parking is the significantly increased security. As the parking process does not require much human involvement, the risk of criminal activities such as stealing or vandalizing parked cars is very low. The controlled environment in which each vehicle is parked, makes this perfect for commercial establishments & high-value residential projects.
Cost-Effectiveness Over Time
Despite being more expensive to set up compared to conventional parking solutions, the long-term savings offered by a tower parking system are significant. Cost savings with tower parking systems happens in multiple ways including: elimination of land acquisition, manpower cost reductions, and efficient utility management.
Seamless Technology Integration
Our systems include the latest technologies: RFID access, mobile application, automatic billing systems, etc. The tech stack ensures that parking is faster, seamless and user-friendly. Integrating such technologies provides a true smart parking environment that meet the needs of the urban dwellers of today, who are tech enthusiastic and connected.
Best Uses of Tower Parking Systems
With their robust design and extremely operationally efficient system, our tower car parking systems are ideally suited to a diverse range of applications. So here are specific situations in which these systems lend incredible value:
Residential Developments in Urban Settings
One notable value-add from a developer's standpoint, particularly in high-rise apartments and gated communities, is providing efficient parking. Residential tower parking solutions from Wohr not only free up ground space for landscaping and community areas but also elevate the prestige of a residential project. It offers residents a seamless and secure parking experience, providing them with added property value and peace of mind.
Business parks and commercial complexes
Higher volume visitors are expected at commercial developments, and parking needs to be as efficient as possible. Our systems have the highest capacity and operational speed, which help to reduce wait times and improve customer satisfaction in all places from shopping malls to corporate offices. By utilizing our commercial tower parking system, businesses can control peak hour traffic while offering a frictionless parking experience that embodies their perspective on being a cutting-edge organization focused on customer ease.
Hospitals, Educational Institutions & Public Infrastructure
Institutes like hospitals and universities tend to have parking issues because of high vehicle turnover on daily basis. Our automated solutions help with parking operations - after all, they make sure that essential services are not congested by parking. This is especially vital when it comes to emergency services, where seconds can be the difference between life and death. Furthermore, as part of their smart city initiatives, government authorities are also increasing adoption of modern parking solutions as part of their tower parking systems in Mumbai and other metro cities.
Smart Cities & Urban Infrastructure
Urban planners are always searching for solutions to curb traffic congestion and make efficient land use. Tower parking systems help to reduce impact of tower parking on city traffic by reducing the search for parking space. This is an integral part of bringing a more sustainable, smart-city infrastructure to life, and our systems are at the forefront of this movement.
Installation & Maintenance: Planning for Long-Term Success
The decision to install a tower parking system is a strategic decision that extends beyond the installation. It requires careful planning, a rigorous installation process, and a proactive maintenance strategy to ensure long life and continuous operation.
Installation Process
When one of our systems is installed, an extensive feasibility study is conducted first. We work with developers, architects, and planners to learn about your specific needs on site, such as: site analysis, technical planning and integration considerations.
Compact enough for even the smallest urban buildings, our adaptable systems (like the Slimparker 557 Tower) are designed to the needs of urban builds — creating a good-looking installation that can satisfy every demand.
Maintenance Protocols
Automated infrastructure requires regular maintenance for proper operation. WPS supports you through preventative maintenance contracts so that your system is always running at its best. Some tower parking system maintenance tips include: Routine Inspections, Scheduled Servicing, Software Updates and Use of OEM Parts.
With tower parking systems, these initiatives not only extend the life of the system and ensures maximum cost savings, but also reduces unexpected downtime and repair costs.
Tower Parking on the Global Stage: Embracing a Smart Future for Urban Mobility
Tower parking systems are becoming increasingly popular around the world, as cities look for more sustainable and space-efficient options. Vertical parking is quite an intricate part of the urban mobility strategy in Japan, Germany, and the USA in developed countries.
Within the realm of India’s bustling cities:
Densely populated cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, and Pune are embracing automated parking systems to address these twin issues of scarce space and growing vehicle numbers.
Tower parking systems in Mumbai provides new paradigms of urban planning while demonstrating that innovation is the only barrier when faced with infrastructural constraints.
The advantages of automated tower parking solutions are in every city that adopted this innovative vertical solution. Our multi-level parking solutions are efficient, durable, and future-ready, and as global trends move us inexorably onwards, are the trusted choice for smart modern developments.
Conclusion: Driving Urban Excellence with Wohr Parking Systems
Urbanization and human-centric design; such concepts have never been more important than now, in a world that is rapidly changing and full of challenges. The benefits of tower parking systems are clear — space maximization, operational efficiency, enhanced security, and reduced costs in the long run.
When you select the WPS, you are choosing - reliability, quality of technology, and proven legacy of delivering high-quality tower car parking systems that increase operational efficiency and user experience. Whether you design residential complexes or public infrastructure, from our flagship Slimparker 557 Tower System to the Crossparker 558, our extensive product portfolio will help you get the best tower parking system for your project.
Together, we can build spaces that transcend today’s challenges, laying the foundation for a sustainable, progressive tomorrow.
To learn more about implementation strategies, pricing, and how we can customize the design of your next project, contact us today. WPS is dedicated to revolutionize your urban development, utilizing advanced automatic parking system technology to optimize every square inch of your investment.
#Tower Parking System#tower car parking systems#Automated Tower Parking#tower parking systems#automatic parking car in India#benefits of using tower parking systems#tower parking solutions#innovative tower parking solutions#advantages of automated tower parking#Cost savings with tower parking systems#Residential tower parking solutions#tower parking systems in Mumbai#impact of tower parking on city traffic#tower parking system maintenance tips#Vertical parking#Tower parking systems in Mumbai#automatic parking system
0 notes
Text
Stack Parking System: The Ultimate Space-Saving Solution by Tedra Auto
The Stack Parking System is designed to provide a dependent, cost-effective solution for vertically parking two cars in a single parking space. This system is ideal for locations where vertical space can be utilized efficiently, such as residential and commercial buildings with limited floor area.
The Stack Parking System provides an economical way to double parking capacity by using vertical space without requiring significant structural changes.
Features and Benefits
Usage - Since it’s a dependent system, accessing the second car requires moving the first car off the pallet. This setup works best for spaces where cars do not need frequent retrieval .
Operation - The first car is parked on the pallet at the ground level. When a second car needs to be parked, the pallet lifts the first car up, creating space underneath it.
Mechanism - The system includes a pallet that can move vertically. This pallet is driven by a hydraulic cylinder or mechanical system.
0 notes
Text
Drive-in Pallet Racking vs. Pallet Flow Systems: Key Features Compared
When it comes to optimizing warehouse space and improving logistics efficiency, two popular storage solutions often come up: Drive-in Pallet Racking and Pallet Flow Systems. But how do they compare? Which one is the right fit for your business? If you're deciding between these two options, you’re in the right place! In this article, we will break down their features, advantages, and when to choose one over the other. By the end, you'll have a clearer picture of which system will work best for your specific needs.
What is Drive-in Pallet Racking?
Drive-in pallet racking is a high-density storage solution that allows forklift operators to drive directly into the racking system to load or unload pallets. It’s a system designed for storing large quantities of similar goods in a smaller footprint. Think of it like parking your car in a multi-story parking garage, but instead of cars, you’re stacking pallets.
How Drive-in Pallet Racking Works
In a drive-in racking system, the racks are built with multiple levels where pallets are stored, one behind the other. As forklifts move along the aisles, they place pallets into the racking system, with the last pallet placed at the farthest point in the row. This is a LIFO (Last In, First Out) system, meaning the most recently placed pallet is the first to be retrieved.
Key Advantages of Drive-in Pallet Racking
High Density: With its compact design, drive-in racking maximizes vertical space, making it a great option for warehouses with limited floor space.
Cost-effective: It requires fewer aisles and less racking material compared to other racking systems, which translates to reduced installation and maintenance costs.
Easy Access for Forklifts: Since forklifts can drive directly into the racks, they can quickly and easily load or unload pallets without the need for extra maneuvering.
What is a Pallet Flow System?
A pallet flow system, on the other hand, is a dynamic storage solution where pallets are stored on rollers and move automatically toward the front of the system using gravity. As pallets are placed at the rear of the racking, gravity pushes them forward, making it easy for forklifts to access the pallet at the front. This system is most commonly used in FIFO (First In, First Out) inventory management.
How Pallet Flow Systems Work
Pallet flow systems have sloped rails and rollers, allowing pallets to move automatically when one is removed. This ensures that the oldest stock is always used first, promoting better inventory rotation and reducing the risk of obsolete or expired goods.
Key Advantages of Pallet Flow Systems
Improved Inventory Management: The FIFO system ensures that the oldest items are used first, reducing waste and spoilage.
Reduced Labor: Since the pallets automatically flow forward, forklifts don’t have to manually move them, saving time and reducing human error.
Efficient Use of Space: Pallet flow systems can be designed to optimize the use of available vertical and horizontal space, especially in high-demand environments.
Key Features Compared
Space Utilization
When it comes to space efficiency, Drive-in Pallet Racking takes the lead. This system allows you to store more pallets in a smaller area, making it ideal for warehouses where maximizing vertical storage is crucial. The downside? It can be difficult to manage inventory as pallets are stored in a LIFO system, which may not work for perishable items.
In contrast, Pallet Flow Systems are excellent for operations that require a FIFO inventory system. Since pallets are automatically pushed forward, you can store a variety of products without worrying about expired stock. However, the need for gravity flow and rollers makes it a bit more space-intensive than drive-in racking.
Inventory Management
Inventory management is where the Pallet Flow System shines. The automatic movement of pallets ensures that the oldest stock is always accessed first, which is particularly useful for industries like food and pharmaceuticals that deal with perishable goods.
Drive-in pallet racking, on the other hand, operates on a LIFO basis. This system may not be the best choice for businesses that need to keep track of expiry dates or rotate stock regularly. For those, a pallet flow system would be the more reliable option.
Efficiency and Speed
Efficiency-wise, Pallet Flow Systems have the advantage. Since the system uses gravity to push pallets forward, it can speed up retrieval times. Forklift operators don’t need to spend as much time maneuvering through the aisles, making the system much quicker to operate.
With Drive-in Pallet Racking, forklifts must enter the rack to load or retrieve pallets, which can be time-consuming if pallets are stored deep within the system. However, for less time-sensitive goods, this may not be an issue.
Maintenance and Upkeep
Both systems are relatively low-maintenance, but Drive-in Pallet Racking tends to require fewer repairs overall since it doesn’t have moving parts like rollers. Pallet flow systems, on the other hand, have rollers and rails that may require more maintenance over time to ensure smooth operation.
Which System is Best for Your Business?
When choosing between Drive-in Pallet Racking and Pallet Flow Systems, the right choice ultimately depends on your business’s unique needs. Here are a few things to consider:
Type of Inventory: Do you deal with perishable goods that require FIFO, or are you okay with LIFO storage for non-perishable items?
Available Space: Do you have a lot of vertical space to maximize, or is your warehouse more horizontally constrained?
Operational Speed: Is quick access to your inventory crucial, or is slower retrieval acceptable?
Final Thoughts
In the battle of Drive-in Pallet Racking vs. Pallet Flow Systems, both systems offer distinct advantages depending on your business’s needs. Drive-in racking provides a compact, cost-effective solution, ideal for large quantities of similar products, while pallet flow systems offer advanced inventory management and faster retrieval for businesses that prioritize FIFO.
Meatco Distributor
3265 Gateway Rd, Suite 350, Brookfield, WI
800–558–5104
0 notes
Text
Stacker Parking System: A Modern Solution to Urban Parking Woes
As cities continue to grow and available land becomes scarce, traditional parking methods are proving to be inefficient and space-consuming. The need for innovative parking solutions that can maximize space usage has given rise to the Stacker Parking System, an advanced, automated parking system that offers an efficient and compact alternative to conventional parking structures.
What is a Stacker Parking System?
A stacker parking system is an automated multi-level parking solution designed to vertically stack vehicles one above the other. This system utilizes mechanical lifts or platforms to move vehicles into parking spaces, significantly reducing the footprint needed to accommodate the same number of cars as traditional parking lots. By going vertical, stacker systems provide a practical solution for urban areas where space is at a premium.
Typically, a stacker parking system consists of multiple levels, each with designated parking slots, and can be configured to store two or more vehicles on top of one another, depending on the height of the facility and the specific model of the system.
How Does a Stacker Parking System Work?
The operation of a stacker parking system is both simple and efficient. Here’s how it works:
Vehicle Entry: The driver pulls the vehicle into a designated platform or bay at ground level. Once the car is properly positioned, the system’s control panel activates, allowing the driver to leave the vehicle.
Stacking Process: The system’s lift mechanism moves the vehicle vertically or horizontally to an available slot on one of the upper levels. Depending on the system’s configuration, cars can be stacked in multiple tiers, with the lift automatically positioning each vehicle into its designated spot.
Vehicle Retrieval: When the driver is ready to retrieve their vehicle, the system is activated via a touchscreen interface or a mobile app. The system brings the car down from its parking position and onto the ground level for the driver to collect.
Types of Stacker Parking Systems
There are several types of stacker parking systems, each catering to different space and user needs:
Dependent Stacker Systems: In this type, cars are stacked on top of one another, but accessing the lower vehicle requires the removal of the upper vehicle. It’s commonly used in residential or commercial spaces where there is limited turnover of cars.
Independent Stacker Systems: This system allows vehicles to be parked and retrieved independently of one another, ensuring that no car needs to be moved to access another. It is ideal for areas with high traffic or frequent vehicle movement, such as public parking lots or commercial spaces.
Semi-Automated Stacker Systems: This type of stacker parking requires some manual intervention but uses mechanical lifts to move cars to higher levels. It is a cost-effective solution for spaces where a fully automated system may not be necessary.
0 notes
Text
car stacker
A car stacker, like Solidparking, is a clever way to squeeze more cars into tight spots by stacking them up. Whether you're dealing with a manual system or letting the tech do its thing automatically, Solidparking offers solutions that range from simple setups doubling your space with two-level stacking, to high-tech robots that neatly arrange cars like puzzle pieces. It's all about making the most of limited parking space, turning a cramped lot into a car-friendly spot without the hassle.

0 notes
Text
Innovative Solutions for Urban Mobility: Parking Pallet Systems and Escalators
As cities grow denser and parking spaces become scarce, innovative solutions are needed to manage space efficiently and improve traffic flow. Two such solutions are parking pallet systems and escalators, offering unique advantages for urban environments.
Parking Pallet Systems: Stacking Cars Like Cargo
Parking pallet systems offer a space-saving alternative to traditional parking garages. Here's how they work:
Individual platforms: Cars are parked on individual metal platforms called "pallets."
Vertical movement: A mechanical system lifts and lowers the pallets, stacking cars vertically like cargo in a warehouse.
Improved efficiency: Compared to traditional parking, pallet systems maximize space by eliminating wasted space between parked cars. This can potentially double or even triple the parking capacity in a given area.
However, these systems also come with some limitations:
Higher initial cost: Setting up a pallet system can be more expensive than a traditional parking garage.
Slower retrieval: Retrieving a car may take longer compared to a self-park garage, as the system needs to locate and retrieve the specific pallet holding the car.
Know more about Parking Pallet Systems
Escalators
Escalators: Moving Crowds Efficiently
Escalators are inclined moving staircases that continuously transport people between levels. They are particularly beneficial in:
High-traffic areas: They efficiently move large volumes of people in places like shopping malls, airports, and train stations.
Accessibility: Escalators provide an alternative to stairs, improving accessibility for people with limited mobility.
Reduced congestion: By offering an alternative way to navigate multi-level structures, escalators help ease congestion on stairs.
However, escalators also have limitations:
Space requirements: Installing escalators requires dedicated space, which may not be available in all situations.
Maintenance needs: Escalators require regular maintenance to ensure safety and smooth operation.
The Future of Urban Mobility
Parking pallet systems and escalators offer innovative solutions for addressing the challenges of urban mobility. While they each have their own advantages and limitations, they can be valuable tools in optimizing space utilization, improving efficiency, and increasing accessibility in our ever-growing cities. As technology advances, we can expect further innovation in these areas, shaping the future of urban transportation.
0 notes
Photo

Not all social housing in the 1960s was about tower blocks. High-rise buildings were unpopular with tenants, lifts were costly and broke down, and the surrounding lawns were hard to maintain. Moreover, on the slopes around Hampstead Heath in London, towers would have blocked views towards St Paul’s Cathedral. This area became part of the newly created borough of Camden in 1965 and a visionary new chief architect, Sydney Cook, assembled a bright team of assistants to find an alternative form of housing. One of these young architects was Peter Tábori, who has died aged 83. The Whittington estate which he designed, originally known as Highgate New Town, exemplified a solution that was both innovative and successful.
Camden had identified an area of semi-derelict Victorian housing for redevelopment next to Highgate’s east cemetery, where Karl Marx is buried. Tábori realised that, on such a steep hillside, lines of flats and maisonettes could be stacked one above the other and entered from a common entrance at mid-level on the uphill side. Car parking could be set into the hill between these terraces and decked over with pedestrian walkways and children’s playgrounds.
He was inspired by medieval Italian hill towns and an internationally regarded scheme near Berne by the Swiss architects Atelier 5, but the greatest impression is of generous, humane spaces. The scheme was designed in 1968-70 but not completed until 1979 after the original contractors went bust.
The concept fitted perfectly with Cook’s own ideas and Tábori was a natural addition to the team. Other assistants working on similar solutions went on to greater recognition: Neave Brown’s complex terraces at Fleet Road (now Dunboyne Road) and Alexandra Road are listed, as are Gordon Benson and Alan Forsyth’s mainly two-storey houses on a steep slope at Branch Hill, Hampstead.
Together the group established a distinctive style for Camden’s best social housing using crisp white concrete, densely packed but relatively low-rise. Tábori’s Highgate New Town had the benefit of simplicity, in the design of the terraces and in his determination that public and private spaces should be clearly separated. This last avoided the problems faced by estates where indeterminate space led to vandalism. Mark Swenarton’s book Cook’s Camden (2017), to which Tábori generously contributed, records the inspiring story.
Highgate New Town was finely finished, the external concrete contrasting with handsome internal joinery. Cook claimed that “the quality of [Tábori’s] work isn’t just double site capacity at low rise, or all the higher standards, but that he did it all below yardstick”, the restrictive budget code imposed by governments at the time. In fact, Camden’s fine housing was made possible by its high domestic rates income and other London boroughs could not match its quality. Many of Tábori’s maisonettes remain tenanted, but those sold under “right-to-buy” legislation now fetch eye-watering prices.
Tábori went on to design a second scheme in 1971, Oakshott Court, Polygon Road, with three L-shaped terraces, but he was disappointed by a decision made in 1974 to use brick, apparently in deference to its location near St Pancras Station. A smaller scheme of 15 flats on the corner of Mill Lane and Solent Road followed in 1973 after Cook’s retirement, including four wheelchair-accessible units and five for elderly people. He also worked on a visionary programme with the architects/engineers Arup Associates for building over the main railway tracks that run through Camden, an attempt to gain space in the overcrowded borough.
He was born Peter Stroh in Budapest, the son of Istvan Stroh, a professor of mathematics, and his wife Erzsebét (nee Szanto), a former opera singer. She subsequently married Michael Tábori, an economist whose father had died at Auschwitz. Both men had been imprisoned by the communist government and following the 1956 uprising in Budapest, Peter too was arrested. On his release in December 1956 he, Erzsebét and Michael emigrated to London via Vienna, along with other members of Michael’s family. Thenceforth Tábori used his stepfather’s surname and adopted it formally on becoming a British citizen in 1966.
Tábori learned English and technical drawing with an architect, Cecil Epril, and in 1958 entered Regent Street Polytechnic (now the University of Westminster). His tutors included Richard Rogers, who inspired his interest in mass housing, and who himself designed an (unbuilt) hillside scheme in Croydon inspired by Atelier 5. Tábori assisted on Rogers’s first built house, Creekvean, with Su Rogers and Norman Foster.
Tábori also spent two years working for Ernö Goldfinger, the Hungarian-born architect immortalised by Ian Fleming, before completing his qualifications. The final external examiner was Denys Lasdun, who gave him a job assisting on the University of East Anglia, another hillside building with a stepped section where he learned about concrete techniques. However, when in 1967 the chance came to work for Cook and develop his own housing interests, Tábori seized the opportunity.
He left the borough in 1984 and formed a private practice with John Green and Bob Winning, working mainly in Hamburg, Toulouse and Soweto.
Tábori married Angelika Schiel, a model, in 1962. They had three sons, Kris, Michael and Gabor, but divorced in about 1980, and Angelika, who became an upholsterer, died in 2016. Peter had a fourth son, Tom, in 1984, with Anne Saville, a welfare adviser at the charity Gingerbread, but the couple later separated. He is survived by his sons.
🔔 Peter Tábori (Peter Stroh), architect, born 15 January 1940; died 23 February 2023
Daily inspiration. Discover more photos at http://justforbooks.tumblr.com
19 notes
·
View notes
Text
Late Night Delivery.
Groans. Always groans. Only groans. The groans of moving heavy boxes, the groans of late hours. The groans of finding one more box among many. The two gazed at the wooden crate and its metal reinforcements and then at each other. Their sterilized, rubbery overalls and gloves creaking as they shrugged and tried to non-verbally settle this affair.
The air was chilly, nippy at best. It was evening, and the light fog made every remaining light in the parking lot look like ominous alien abductions. What they wanted with an old rundown car is beyond the observer’s ability to reason, such is the way of alien life.
“Tom. I am not going back in for one box.” Assessed the slender, athletic fellow, slapping his hand firmly on the box.
“Forklift’s back on the charger.” Replied the woman in terse words, flicking a finger across the nails that held the complicating crate together. Neither looked amused. It wasn’t the cold of the open loading bay that got to them.
“Then get it off.”
“No deal. The fine for dumping the box is lower.”
“It’s a forklift!” Was his cry, before his voice lowered down to a more acceptable level, given the late hour. “What kind of damn charger is it!”
“Not the problem. Need an employee. Guy fled when it was parked.”
The ring of metal sang when a plated boot slammed into the reinforcements. He waved his hand to gesture at all the tall stacked shelves and its many contents. He chanted a beautiful speech about the importance of checks and balances, to no avail.
“Dude, shut up. Maybe we can find some late techie or a sec to haul it.”
“Through WHAT door?” He pointed firmly at the door at the end of the loading bay. Elevated a few feet on its raised catwalk and lit with emergency and decorative lighting, it screamed of importance. “We don’t have cards!”
“Isn’t that the summon button?”
“What, for a waiter?” He followed her finger and walked over, eventually finding a little button shaped like a bear’s head, beset with a fine hat. Or the outline of one.
“Kinda. Beats the fine.”
For a moment, he stared at the button. Before he could push it, the door beside it opened, revealing a towering, and rather fancily painted, machine. A humanoid shape, speckled with bear features, with the glim and glamour of a rockstar. Worse yet, his eyes glowed like a monster of the night, and his face was masked.
It took him a few solid breaths and a lean against the railing to assure himself he was not dead, outside of the years lost to his almost-heart attack. The large robot applied gentle pats to his back, assuring him the situation was well within acceptable limits.
“Excuse me, your delivery was expected to have left this depot fifteen minutes ago. May I ask why you are still here?” His voice was deep and well synthesized, giving off a friendly tone that deftly avoided the uncanny valley.
“Box.” Said the lady, slapping it firmly. “Parts and services. No pas. Forklift locked. Good luck.” The bear clearly took a moment to analyse the minimalistic speech. It was harder than purple prose, at least for a machine. Context is far more difficult to decipher than literal meaning.
“I see. Gasping person, can you elaborate?”
“We… pfew… we. We missed a box. We got no passes and it's meant for delivery to parts n’ services directly. There’s a fine if we don’t do it properly.”
“That is indeed a problem. However, I can provide a solution that benefits us both. I have intended to move towards parts and services already, to deliver a few items. On my way there, I can deliver the box.”
“Y’sure? Yer a performing bot, not some lifter or staffy.” She lifted herself off the box and met the machine half-way. The subtle whirring of engines didn’t seem to settle her worries too much either.
“I am equipped to handle weights and loads exceeding one metric ton. If necessary, it is not an encouraged use.”
“Cool. Crate’s lighter, but sure.”
“Are we letting some random ass robot take off with our crate? Why would he do it right! Or take any responsibility off of us?”
“Hey, I’d sooner trust a robot than you. I doubt this guy was ever late to work.”
“I am always on time if I can help it. Additionally, I am more than willing to assist however I can, miss.”
The robot leaned in and scanned a set of symbols printed on the box. To humans, such symbols lack all meaning without a small hand-held scanner, yet the machine instantly recognized what it all meant.
“This box contains a variety of custom ordered parts intended for immediate shipping to Parts & Services. Please, allow me to assist, so you may continue on your route.”
“Final delivery, big boy.” She appended a finger gun.
“Excuse me, I wish you a safe trip home and a nice evening.”
“Well, what’s it gonna be? He seems friendly enough.”
The human had since pulled himself off the catwalk back down, stumbling as his head felt light. The large robot just had this surreal quality, like a ghost or fantastical being. He looked up, and down, and did so twice more, confused and eventually relenting. If only to get a drink.
“Yea yea, go for it, friendly iron giant.”
“I am glad to help.”
“Dude, how do you not know the mascot of this place?” She asked, getting into the driver side of the car.
“I’ve never been inside! Do I look like I want to kiss a robot, or get my ears blown out?”
The robot remained standing, only being given a half-hearted wave-salute by the lady of the two. He returned the wave, smiling as he sent off the hard workers. The garage door reeled closed, after which he went to work.
-
A little later Freddy had amassed what needed to be gathered. A few items balanced atop the wooden crate, all carried along by the overeager bear. The dark halls were no problem for his magnificent navigation skills and extra sensitive eyes. The rare time any other moving object came by, it was a simple staff robot, leaving little to delay him.
It didn’t take long to get to parts anyway. The door was open and inside waited the slew of technology needed to keep an army of robots operational. As well as the lights. And the elevators. Escalators. All the minor mechanical bits. The rides. Freddy only sometimes considered the intense amount of non-human components this facility housed.
“Excuse me, a delayed delivery.” He insisted, placing the crate atop a designated offloading area. The items on top were swiftly placed on a workbench, immediately avoiding potential conflict in the future.
“Excellent, excellent. Nothing quite like a fresh hunk of junk to keep the old joints whirring.” The old man flicked up a welding mask as he appeared from behind a hanging set of partially disassembled robots. The lights of his workspace only became obvious when they reflected off of him, otherwise the curtain or robots hid what he was doing.
“The delivery people could not make this delivery due to minor scheduling conflicts.”
“No worries, no worries, Freddy.” The man patted his gloved hand against the bear’s chest and examined the delivered parts and pieces. “Those things can wait. I mostly needed these spools.”
“Is your evening going well, chief engineer Caldwell? Are the repairs going as expected?” The bear attempted to make some small talk as he observed the human inspecting the unpackaged parts.
“Naturally, my boy. It’s a night like any other. Just a late one, given the accident.”
“Can it be fixed?”
“Silly bear, what do you think? At worst some people got a little wet. My concern is the money I’ll be spending buying replacement mops.”
“It’s just that you seemed quite upset at the time.”
With a sigh he turned to the bear, applied another pat, and took his things. “I always am. It’s hard not to feel something for the intricate creations you’ve kept alive and well for years. And you, Mr. Fazbear, has your day been well so far?”
“I… it has been a lovely day. It is impressive how many people share birthdays sometimes. It’s a joy to bring such happiness and excitement.”
The human was trailed by the bear as he returned to his workspace. An entire robot, disassembled down to the tiniest screws. The old man examined and compared parts, new and old, and made the necessary fixes as he went along.
“Mind if I ask what affected it, chief engineer Caldwell?”
“I’d say a lack of lubrication, but it’s more complex than that. The tension spools just wear out over time. The janitors especially. Just a fact of life, although maintenance usually catches it before failure. Just like with people, sometimes bodily failures catch you off guard.” He let off a little chuckle, as he rubbed his right hand. “Nowhere to be, Freddy?”
“It is after closing and I have no maintenance scheduled. As a result, there are no mandatory events for me to attend.”
“Yes, yes.” The human looked up at the nearby clock, shining his specialized spotlight right on it. With a nod, the light returned to his workspace. With a chuckle, he continued his work of screwing and welding. “All the more reason to not be in some stuffy maintenance closet, isn’t it?”
“I thought you would appreciate some company after dark.”
“Hm.” The engineer looked up and folded his hands together, before resting his head on it. Hhis welding mask is still up, of course. “This is a place of gathering, my good sir. If I desired company, I would have a whole day to find it. A wise man does not sow in autumn or reap in spring.”
“That statement is not entirely correct, did you…”
“Easy, easy. Wisdom and sagacity are meant to tickle the mind, not provide facts to put in some stuffy history book or dictionary. Mathematical axioms have no place in philosophy, and neither do fancy proverbs help with spot welding.”
“As I said, I wish to provide you with some company. It is unsafe to operate such equipment alone.”
“There’s cameras, and I’ve done this for years. I’ve already paid my price for being careless anyway.”
For a moment, his conversation partner failed, remaining silent. His head tilted, indicating thought, before he returned to his more talkative state.
“Despite that, I have no other place to be, and my presence does not harm your work.”
The old man let out a content laugh. The heavy worktable let out a loud noise as his right hand slapped down. Caldwell turned to Freddy, an elbow on the table, the other free to gesture.
“Perhaps you can do me a small favor then?”
Freddy maintained a smile and replied with a nod. “Always.”
“Can you give me an update on the other three?”
“Monty has a ‘day off’. I am unaware of his current whereabouts. Chica and Roxy have requested a similar time off, though it’s mostly limited to their personal spaces and green rooms.”
Caldwell resisted the urge to facepalm, using his left hand instead. Then he slowly got up, put a hand on the bear’s side, and guided him to the door. His posture was accommodating and relaxed, requiring no force to push the bear along.
“That’s all fair, dear bear. Then perhaps you can slide yourself over to the kitchen and ensure the appliances are all working just fine?”
At the door, still closed, the bear ceased momentarily, forcing the human to halt as well. There was an exchange of looks, between glowing eyes and eyes whose light was merely the reflection of one.
“That falls quite a distance outside of my usual duties and roles. In addition, I am neither authorized nor familiar with the workings of kitchen appliances.”
Caldwell took a deep breath, his smile briefly fading as he rubbed his face as if to clean off a layer of dirt. His friendly gaze fell on the bear as he patted the bear’s hanging hand.
“It’s more that I desire a measure of privacy. My work is never really done, you know. I say, it’s been a while since I’ve not had any new ideas running around in there.”
“And these ideas have been approved by…?”
“Yes, yes. As much as they need to be. And I’m a little nervous about the upcoming tour. It’s going to be quite the test run.”
“A testrun of what, might I ask? I have not been informed of any particular tests.”
“Hm, it’s not quite that kind of test, Freddy. See the tour itself as a big test of the technical limitations of this whole… situation.”
“I am still unclear about what exactly you are referring to.”
The human, tired of standing, took the simple seat next to the workbench. The creaky old thing barely got any love, and welcomed its fresh visitor accordingly.
“I have a dream, Freddy. A quite specific dream.”
“A dream? As I dream to bring happiness?”
“Not really. It’ll be your first extensive stay away from the Pizzaplex.”
“Indeed. Hardening, is what you called it? The increased weather resistance?”
“Naturally you’re designed for the perfectly climate controlled environment this place can offer. But that’s not the only thing. Enough of that.” He waved his hand in the air, as if to blow away the thoughts.
“You appear to be suffering minor fatigue. Have you eaten well? Has your water intake been sufficient?”
“Freddy, ignore the biometric hooha. How about a story? Something you can think about while I regain my privacy.”
“Certainly. I always enjoy listening to a good story.”
“Keep this one between us.” He muttered, raising himself from his seat. He went to his old workchair, which was miles more comfortable and decades younger. A comfortable, silent chair, overpowered by the sound of an old man’s sigh. All this getting up and sitting back down was giving him a slight frown.
“Our story begins in a faraway land, where five wise men were learning the art of magic.”
“I love magic. It’s such an inspiring idea.”
“Stories are heard, not talked to, Fredbear.
One of those wise men longed for more than the people of his world. His mother always told him stories of beautiful things that were like men, yet different. Alien minds and strange creations that inspired greatness. Her tall tales drove him to want to make life, or things resembling it.
Thus he went to the academies of higher learning. There he met his fellow four wise men. Well, actually, three of the five were women, but I just like saying ‘wise men’.”
“I will endure your archaic use for aesthetic purposes.”
“If I was like that I wouldn’t have worked overtime on your pride hiccup.
Ahum.
These five wise men were sharp of wit, and studied many forms of magic. Some, the art of life and how to control it. With it, life could be extended. Others the art of animation, allowing the creation of obedient constructs. Not too smart, but amazing at simple tasks, such as ploughing fields. One even studied the art of wit and sagacity, learning how to see and think beyond the surface. For how else can one find injustice, if one knows not what justice is?
Though they were wise, they were also together. And one day, on a bet, they argued it was possible to create life itself. The sage proclaimed the line between life and nonlife is arbitrary at best, thus it can be crossed. The wizards of life knew that life can be broken down to simple things, replicated by magic. The wizards of animation understood how to replicate such things, provided cause and effect were properly written.
Years passed, and their bet became an obsession. As members passed, only three saw the first stage of success.
The seed of life.”
“Mind if I ask, what exactly is this seed?”
“A beginning. A fragment that, with time, love and energy, could become a spark. However, only one would remain to see the seed grow. He tended the garden to the end, and though his closest friends did not live to see it, he carried their burden, and shared their elation. The old wizard cried of joy as he lifted the spark in his hands, and witnessed it.
It was not perfect. He could breathe life, but at his age, he had no money left to give it form. To keep life in glass bottles is no life at all. They ranted and turned mad, growing spiteful of their prisons. The old man felt despair. His life's work was worthless.”
“This doesn’t sound like a very happy story.”
“It’s not over yet.
Years later, he travelled abroad. A herald told of a bounty for those who could find the seed of life. A claimant had come, but it reminded him there was hope. That maybe, he could find another like minded person to aid his quest.
At a meeting of great wizards, in a foreign land, he tried to offer his promise of life. None cared. His offer was insane. None had gotten as far as him, so his spark was surely a lie and sham.
Except the purple king. This wizard-king was fascinated by what he saw, and gave the old man hope. He offered him a magical slab that can grant wishes. Simple wishes, such as resources and labor, but wishes nonetheless. All he wished in return was to see the wizard’s progress in one year. The wizard took the slab and promised he would have created a new life.
He did not.
The construct he created turned rogue. It wanted to see the world, meet people. Before the year was up, the construct went berserk. The wizard used his greatest spells and wands to cast down the construct, but not without great injury. Once more, he fell to despair.
When the purple king came, he brought with him hope anew. He gave the wizard new knowledge on how to blend his spark with his own body and form. Undo his injury and think anew. For what he had made was an achievement, and the purple king was patient, as all wise men are.
That next year, the wizard repaired his injury and found new life. And with it, he began to think. He realized that, to make life, he would need to create a bridge.”
“A bridge? Surely the slab can help with that.”
“No, my dear Freddy, it is a metaphorical bridge. A philosophical one.
For if his constructs were to wander the land as living beings, those who lived there already needed to see them as living. Or at the very least teach his creations to be as people.
So he spent his year thinking.
So much thinking, he forgot the time. But when the year was up, the purple king did not come. Even more, his slab lost its power. Worried for his kindred spirit, he sought him, and found no trace. Yet, the slab made note of its point of creation.
Following it, he learned of the purple king’s legacy. A great plan dreamt by great minds, fuelled by powerful kings, built by many hands. It just so happened they required a court wizard. Though the purple king had passed, the wizard could invoke his name as words of power, and soon found himself closer to his goal than ever.
For what was this great plan? One of joy, of giving, of generosity. Beautiful ceilings higher than giants, more lights than the starry sky. The smiles of a thousand children, the excitement of content labor, the rest of weary minds.
He saw the seeds of utopia. He sowed the seeds of utopia.
Of course, like any good story, he had opened Pandora's box. Such a thing cannot be closed. Not with all the might in the world. So he waited for the right time. First, he built many constructs, using his wisdom, learning and experience to make the finest designs the world had ever seen.
And only when he was ready, when the kings trusted his every judgement, when the great minds agreed in his vision, when the many hands were aching to act.
He opened the box, and waited.
For when the box is opened, all you can really do is wait. And hope that spark becomes a beautiful new flame of life, instead of a destructive wildfire of chaos and fear.”
There was a quiet. The large robot processed what he had been told. Yet, he could not fully grasp it. If only because he needed to consider that not all conversation is factual, allegorical or even meaningful.
“I am afraid that higher level narrative analysis isn’t a skill I use often.”
“Freddy, you’ve already listened to my story. For many, that is more than enough. I say, you’re a wonderful listener at least. Just… give it a little thought sometime. Let it run through your head, its words and meaning go over. The best way to learn how to think at a higher level is to ask questions and never accept the answers. Ask more, go deeper, fly higher, and eventually… Well, I’ll never match a real philosopher, but then again. I studied to be a doctor of metal.”
“You are not made… excuse me. I think my attempt to contemplate has delayed my NLP threading. I will take care not to let such interference occur again.”
The old man turned to his broken machine and pulled his welding mask back down. The hot, noisy flame would soon return to suture the wounds of the fallen cleaner and his overeager mopping technique.
“No need for apologies with me.”
“I do have a final query. Your story uses a plot element called the ‘spark of life’, which supposedly induces a state of living. However, my lexicon cannot properly solve the meaning of this term.”
“And why is that?”
“Life, or a state of living, comes in many forms. My dictionary definitions range from animation to vital signs to sensory response, sentience, and high level reasoning, sapience. And I am detecting hints on the question regarding the living state of virii. Which of those would the spark of life induce?”
“Usually, when people talk about such matters, they address living as a state of minimal, or greater, sapience. Say, as much as a dog or more. Capable of begging for its life, or desire for something, and potentially capable of forming more abstract wants like the fulfillment of artistic endeavours.”
“How strange, yet fascinating.”
“Your optimism always sounds tinny when it’s forced.” The old man shook his head, having nothing but understanding for the limitation.
“I am sorry. In addition, I am confused. How could you tell apart a spark of life that properly induces higher level thinking from a creation that merely mimics and mirrors higher level thinking?”
“There’s this thing called the Turing test. While the test itself is flawed in a few ways, the core idea is there. If an entity can merely mimic humanity, then it is human, in my eyes. If you want some extra homework, I have another fun one for you.”
“I would not mind something to contemplate once my literary analysis has finished.”
“How can you tell you're not the only living thing? That I am not the machine here? How can I be certain other humans are not merely flesh automatons animated by neural input, any humanity or free will imaginary?”
“Your statement is incompatible with my current NLP neural net. The resulting analysis is uncomfortable, like a cross threaded screw, or a security officer breaking corporate policy.”
“That’s philosophy, my good sir. At least, that’s what Diane always sounded like.I never got most of it, but I feel you might enjoy giving it some thought. It’ll at least impress the adults who worry too much about your supposedly lacking intellect.”
The robot seemed almost bothered that the human brought up such a particular point. “Did you listen in to today’s post-showtime Meet-And-Greet?”
“Almost, almost. Your handler made a report. Minor as it was, I read all of them. I’d be a poor chief engineer if I didn’t take them seriously. As the Romans said; treat your inferior as you wish your superior to treat you.”
There was a moment of silence. Caldwell seemed ready to shift back to his work, yet waited for his conversation partner to formally close the affair.
“Before I go. Chief engineer Caldwell, while Fazbear Entertainment technically encourages employees giving 120%, I personally believe it is better for your work ethic and wellbeing to engage in 8 hours of sleep every 24 hours.”
“Don’t mind me, I’ve always been a bit of a night owl.”
“I believe I have kitchenware to inspect, as was suggested.” The bear replied, appending his trademark wave.
The old man heard, and felt, the bear stomp off. A smile crept on his face, hidden by the cold steel of his welding mask and the dark glass of the visor.
8 notes
·
View notes
Text
Revolutionizing Urban Mobility: Car Stack Parking Systems in Mumbai
In the fast-paced urban landscape of Mumbai, parking is no longer a convenience, it's a challenge. With a continuously growing number of vehicles and limited open spaces, traditional parking models have become outdated and inefficient. As a result, there has been a noticeable shift towards smarter alternatives that are not only space-saving but also technologically advanced. One of the most effective innovations in this domain is the Car Stack Parking System.

What is a Car Stack Parking System?
A Car Stack Parking System is a modern solution designed to address the urban parking crisis. It’s a type of vertical or semi-automated system where multiple cars can be parked one above the other using platforms or hydraulic lifts. These systems can be installed in residential complexes, commercial hubs, malls, IT parks, and public parking areas.
By utilizing vertical space instead of horizontal ground space, stack parking systems are redefining how we think about vehicle storage in crowded cities like Mumbai.
Why Mumbai Needs Stack Parking Solutions
Mumbai, one of the most densely populated cities in the world, faces severe parking shortages. Every year, thousands of new vehicles hit the road, further worsening the already critical parking situation. Whether it’s a residential society, a corporate building, or a shopping complex, finding an available parking slot is often a stressful and time-consuming task.
This is where Stack Parking Solutions in Mumbai come in. These smart systems help:
Maximize parking capacity in tight spaces
Reduce traffic congestion caused by vehicles searching for parking
Save valuable ground space for other uses
Improve the overall aesthetics and organization of urban areas
Benefits of Car Stack Parking in Mumbai
Implementing Car Stack Parking in Mumbai can transform how residents and businesses manage their vehicles. Here are some key benefits:
1. Efficient Use of Space
With vertical parking systems, developers can utilize limited land more efficiently. Instead of requiring a vast horizontal area, stack systems allow vehicles to be stored vertically, making them ideal for Mumbai’s compact plots.
2. Faster Parking and Retrieval
Modern stack systems often come equipped with automation technology, making parking and retrieval faster and more convenient. In high-traffic areas, this can significantly reduce wait times and improve the user experience.
3. Cost-Effective for Builders and Developers
Installing a stack parking system in Mumbai can be more economical than acquiring additional land for traditional parking. It also increases the value of real estate by offering premium parking solutions.
4. Eco-Friendly
By reducing the space needed for parking and limiting unnecessary driving in search of parking, these systems contribute to lower emissions and less fuel consumption beneficial for the environment.
5. Enhanced Safety
Stack parking systems are typically enclosed and managed either manually or through automated systems. This limits unauthorized access and reduces the risk of damage, theft, or vandalism.
Types of Stack Parking Systems
There are different types of Stack Parking Systems available in the market, each suited for specific requirements:
- Two-Level Stack Parking Systems
The most common variety, ideal for residential and small commercial projects. One car is parked on the ground, and the second is lifted above it using hydraulic systems.
- Three-Level Stack Parking Systems
These systems allow three vehicles to be parked vertically and are ideal for commercial complexes and public parking zones with higher space demands.
- Automated Stack Parking Systems
Fully automated stack parking systems use robotic arms and platforms to move cars into place, minimizing human intervention and improving efficiency.
Installation Possibilities in Mumbai
Due to the city’s mixed infrastructure of old buildings and new developments, Car Stack Parking Systems in Mumbai can be customized to fit different environments:
Basement installations
Ground-level outdoor setups
Integrated parking within high-rise residential or commercial complexes
Many developers and architects in Mumbai are now proactively including stack parking solutions in their blueprints to future-proof their properties.
Government Support and Policy Push
With increasing awareness about urban mobility and sustainability, several government agencies and municipal corporations in Mumbai are promoting stack parking solutions. Development Control Regulations (DCR) now allow for the integration of mechanized and stack parking systems in approved building plans.
Moreover, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is encouraging commercial spaces and societies to opt for space-saving systems like car stack parking to reduce congestion on public roads.
Challenges and Considerations
While the benefits are numerous, it’s important to consider certain factors before implementing a stack parking system in Mumbai:
Initial Installation Cost: Although it saves money in the long run, the upfront investment can be significant.
Maintenance Requirements: Hydraulic and mechanical parts require periodic servicing.
User Training: Operators need to be trained in handling semi-automated systems.
However, with the rise of domestic manufacturers and affordable solutions, even mid-range builders and housing societies are finding these systems viable.

The Future of Urban Parking in Mumbai
As Mumbai continues to expand, vertical parking solutions are poised to play a critical role in its infrastructure planning. With rising land costs and growing environmental concerns, stack parking systems offer a scalable and sustainable approach to urban parking.
Innovative brands and parking tech startups are already working on integrating IoT and AI into stack systems, promising smarter parking experiences in the future.
From easing daily commuting hassles to adding value to residential and commercial spaces, Car Stack Parking Systems are an investment in urban convenience. In a city where space is as valuable as gold, making the best use of it is not just smart it’s essential. If you're a builder, property owner, or facility manager looking for reliable stack parking solutions in Mumbai, now is the time to act. Integrating these systems will not only solve current parking problems but also future-proof your property for years to come.
0 notes
Text
Hope you're having a great day. Just thought I'd share some of the designs we work on commonly. This specific one, our client sent us the parking plan in PDF and CAD.
We strategized internally with two level and three level puzzle systems, with and without pits, with and without tandems, and some of our concerns as far as drive aisle trying to hit their specific parking count.
If this is something of interest that you'd like to try, you have something that you're struggling with parking wise, please send us the parking plans, pdfs, and cads, and we'll work on design with you and see if we can provide something of value that gets your project built. Thanks very much
Free Consultation Call About Your Parking Project With Our Automated Parking Systems Design Engineers at (661) 430-3244 or visit us at https://theautomatedparkingcompany.com
#parkingautomation #parkingautomatedsolutions #desigmcustomparking #carparkingstackers #constuctiondevelopers #parkingengineersolutions #parkingdesigns #innovativeparkingsolutions #fastroboticparking #automatedparking #parkingdevelopers #commercialdevelopers #builders #construction #parkinginnovations #carstackers #parkingstructures #roboticparking #maximizeparking #parkinginnovations #savespace #carparkingsolutions #smallspacesolution #nodewatering #smallspaceideas #parkingengineering #parkingspacesolutions #parking #newparkingsystem #newparkingtechnology #newparking_style
Robotic Parking, Robotic Parking Garage, Puzzle Parking, Automated Parking, Automated Parking System, Automated Car Parking, Automated Parking Garage, Parking Stackers, Garage Car Stacker, Stack Parking System, Double Stacker, Triple Stacker, TAPCO, Puzzle Car Parking System, Car Parking Lift System, Lift Parking System, Car Stacker, Car Stacker Lift AGV, #AGV, #tapco, #automatedparking, #puzzleparking, #stackers
#the automated parking company#automated parking systems#puzzle parking#puzzle parking system company#agv parking system#puzzle parking system#puzzle parking system cost#puzzle parking system price#puzzle parking systems#agv parking
0 notes
Text
I Got Outsmarted by a Thirteen-Year-Old
Pairings: N/A Characters: Remy, Logan, Emile, Janus Chapter warnings: Implied child abuse, bruises, blood, imprisonment, loss of consciousness, anxiety attacks, threats of violence, if you’re reblogging on mobile you might have a bad time Word Count: 8,785
Summary:
“Remy, it’s four in the fucking morning,” Janus growled. “Are you serious right now?”
“Are you serious right now?” Remy shot back. “That kid, Logan, what the fuck was up with that?”
Janus blinked stupidly. He descended the rest of the stairs. A yawn escaped his lips, and he stretched his arms over his head.
“Remy, you told me you were fine with kidnapping the kid,” Janus grumbled.
“Yeah, I was,” Remy snapped back, “but I don’t think I kidnapped him. I think I fucking rescued him.”
Ao3 Link
==
Remy read and reread the name printed on the paper. This couldn’t be right. He heard of this kid. What could a kid have possibly done to the boss that would’ve warranted his kidnapping?
Logan Star, a thirteen-year-old prodigy child, was the next on Remy’s hit list, and Remy had no clue why.
From what Remy saw in the papers and on Logan’s YouTube and Twitter pages, the kid was a genius. He was reading chapter books by the time he was four, and he was offering scientific solutions to problems even adults couldn’t fix. From the content of his tweets, he looked like a model citizen, never getting political or showing any connection to the crime boss whatsoever.
So, why was Janus interested in a kid prodigy?
Remy sighed and looked out his car window. Oh well. He didn’t make the rules; he just followed them. That’s what got him this far anyway.
After driving for 10 minutes, the car pulled off the road and parked across a polished white suburban home. It looked completely normal. The red rose bushes hugged the side of the house, and a neatly trimmed green lawn presented several birdbaths. Why so many, Remy would never know, but there couldn’t have been a dirty bird anywhere within the town.
Remy glanced at his car clock. 2:32 am. The streetlight above him flickered a bit, and Remy wondered if that was a signal to do his job. With a deep breath, Remy opened his car door and exited the vehicle.
Silent as a whisper, Remy traveled across the street and stopped in the shadow of the house. A dog barked in the distance as police sirens sounded. Remy prayed it wasn’t meant for him. He scooted along the backside of the house and found a window at his level. Using a tool to quietly slide it open, Remy entered the house and began his search.
The kitchen, from what Remy could tell, looked painfully boring. Steel electronics everywhere. Not a cup out of place. Not a picture on the fridge. The tiled floor showed Remy’s reflection in the low light.
To his left was what Remy assumed was the dining room. A volcano stood on the table, as well as several other scientific objects Remy couldn’t be bothered to learn the names of. A camera stood at the opposite end of a blank wall. The table looked like it hadn’t been cleaned from the last filming session, baking soda dusting the floor and the scent of vinegar burning Remy’s nose.
Remy steered clear of the dining room and headed toward the stairs of the second floor. To his surprise, the floor didn’t squeak. He took two stairs at a time, his heart pounding in his chest.
The second floor is where Remy started to get unnerved. People lived in this house, right? If so, why were there no family photos on the walls? Why weren’t there sounds of snoring from dear old parent bear? Why was nothing making a sound?
Remy chased the goosebumps from his arms. He held his breath and opened the first door to his right.
Remy noticed the bathroom first and the smell second. That was a very heavy scent of blood. Did someone have their period and forget to flush or something? No, there were stains on the sink and floor. Remy held his breath. With a thick swallow, Remy closed the bathroom door and took a deep breath.
From there, Remy traveled a little farther up the hallway. He opened the next door.
This room looked a little more normal. It looked like a simple office. The computer blinked in the corner, an expensive one by the look of it, followed by several home equipment pieces for working out. The stench of sweat hung in the air, or maybe it was absorbed into the carpet. Remy was about to leave when he noticed a rather dark stain on the floor. He cautiously flipped on the light and took another deep breath in. Blood. Again. This one looked like bleach tried to erase its existence, but it was still there.
Remy turned off the light and closed the door. He shivered. What was going on in this house?
As Remy approached the next door, he found his first sign of life. A low hum could be heard above him. Must’ve been the air conditioning. A quiet turn of the door handle showed a master bedroom. The walls had all sorts of awards on it, all with Logan’s name on them. A YouTube diamond play button hung over the headboard, still addressed to Logan. The desk on the other side of the room had papers upon papers stacked upon them. The bed, surprisingly, was empty. Whoever lived in this room wasn't home.
Remy tiptoed inside the room. He picked up one of the papers. Oh, this is what his boss wanted. The paper in Remy’s hand said these people owed over 100K of unpaid debt in his boss’s name. Why would parents of a child prodigy YouTube star be this low on cash? Remy shrugged and put the paper back down. Come to think of it, where were Logan's parents?
As Remy looked around, he noticed things that were probably not Logan's, like the closet full of huge women's shoes and the wardrobe full of adult-sized suits. A box of expensive jewelry sat next to a box of bullets. Remy opened one of the drawers up in curiosity and was horrified by a bloody knife. Next to it was a report card with straight A's- no there was one B. Remy almost didn't notice through the dark red thumbprint.
Something about this house was starting to scare him, and Remy didn’t get scared easily.
Remy closed the door to the parent’s bedroom and let out a breath he didn’t know he held. From there, he went to the last room in the house. This had to be Logan’s room. Remy twisted the door handle and opened it.
A closet. The last room… was a closet? But that couldn't be right. Where was Logan then?
Remy took a step back. Maybe he had the wrong house. Wouldn’t be the first time he walked into the wrong people’s house and scared the accidental shit out of them. He paused. No, those plaques on the wall were definitely addressed to Logan Star.
So, where was the kid?
Remy backed up, and something brushed the top of his head. He gasped and turned to strike whatever attacked him, teeth bared and hand on his gun.
A string.
Remy deadpanned. All that fuss over a string hanging from the ceiling. Remy sighed and looked up. The ceiling had a bolt across the top of it to keep it closed. Must’ve been an attic or a crawlspace or something like that.
A stone of dread landed in Remy’s stomach, but he chased it away. No, that couldn’t be where Logan was.
Could it?
Remy steeled himself for anything and unlocked the bolt on the ceiling. A folded ladder gently swung down to greet him. Remy steadied the wood and crept up. The heat in the attic brought fresh sweat to Remy’s skin. The humming from earlier grew louder, and Remy realized that wasn’t the air conditioner at all, but what sounded like an electric fan.
Remy’s head surfaced through the ceiling hole. The attic had one window to light the space around him, an octagon window with a plus sign shaped bar running vertically and horizontally across it. Why Remy didn’t know. It looked like only a child could get through it, and even then, it was a three-story dropdown. Boxes scattered across the room filled with anything from old Christmas decorations to baby toys. The floor was made of hardwood, and the ceiling didn’t give Remy much room to stand, which considering Remy stood at five feet two inches, didn't give most people much room to stand at all.
At the far side of the attic, the silhouette of someone laying on the floor came into view. The mattress didn’t have a box spring or a frame but instead laid on the dusty floor on its own. The electric fan pointed directly down at the person sweating through the summer heat. Not even a blanket covered them. Their back was turned to him.
Remy’s heart sunk. That better be a person these people kidnapped and stuck up here instead of Logan.
As Remy approached, his fear didn’t disappear. The kid looked just like the internet sensation. Remy avoided the glasses neatly folded on the floor so he wouldn’t break them. He gazed down at the kid for about a minute. This couldn’t be real. This had to be a sick joke. There was no way these people locked a thirteen-year-old in a hot basement with nothing but the bare essentials, was there?
Remy took the bag off his shoulders and gently set it on the floor. His heart pounded in his ears. He didn’t know if it was through excitement or anger at this point, and really, he couldn’t care right now. He pulled the cloth filled with chloroform out and chewed on his lip.
Three. Two. One.
Remy covered both Logan’s mouth and nose. Of course, Logan woke right up. The kid let out a startled cry and tried to squirm out of Remy’s grip, but Remy pressed his hand into Logan’s chest to stop him.
“Shhh, it’s okay,” Remy tried to soothe, as he always did. “It’s gonna be over soon.”
Hands latched onto Remy’s arm, and fingernails scratched at Remy's leather jacket. Logan’s eyes glistened in the light of the moon. Logan kicked and squirmed, but Remy had the upper hand, literally. After a few minutes, Logan’s body succumbed to the chloroform at last, and Remy released the pressure on Logan’s chest and mouth.
Alright, the kid was unconscious. Now, how the hell was he supposed to get him out of here?
Remy groaned as he thought of picking up the kid. To his surprise though, Logan lifted easily in his arms. His breath caught as he counted every rib under his fingertips. Remy swallowed hard. Logan couldn’t have weighed more than ninety pounds, which was rather scary for a kid that stood at five feet six inches. Remy quietly appeased his mind by saying some people were naturally underweight but healthy, but the scenes he walked in on made him worry that wasn’t the case.
Remy slung Logan over his shoulder and crawled back down the wooden ladder. Step. By step. By painfully slow step. Remy made his way down the wood. Logan didn’t stir, and when Remy’s foot hit the bottom floor, he thanked anyone watching out for him that he didn’t drop Logan. From there, Remy switched Logan to his arms in a bridal style carry.
It took no time at all to get Logan in the back of his car. He opened the back door and set Logan down in the seat.
The car light illuminated Logan’s situation perfectly. Logan’s arms, which Remy now realized were always covered in long sleeves during his videos, had deep brown handprints engraved into his skin. His neck, always pressed in a collar tied by a tie, housed choke marks. Remy couldn’t just feel Logan’s ribs, he could see them peeking out from under Logan’s loose white shirt too.
Remy locked Logan’s seatbelt and closed the car door before he could get sick. He opened the driver’s side door and collapsed into his seat. For a moment, Remy stared at Logan’s reflection in his back mirror. He didn’t look away until the lights overhead turned off. Broken from his trance, Remy turned on the car and drove off towards their headquarters. Horrible thoughts passed Remy’s mind, but he sped by them each and every time. However, one question kept coming to his mind and burned in the back of his brain.
Did Remy just kidnap this kid or rescue him?
--
When Remy arrived at the base, he still carried Logan’s sleeping form in his arms. People didn’t pay much mind to him. Remy carrying an unconscious body into headquarters was never anything new. However, the pure rage on his face made everyone naturally steer clear anyway.
Remy spied his target. He stormed toward him, his teeth clenched and eyes glaring over the top of his sunglasses.
Emile turned just in time to have ninety pounds of unconscious child dropped into his arms.
“Remy, what-”
“Where’s Janus? I need to talk to him.”
Emile’s glasses slid down his nose a bit as he answered, “He should be asleep in his room. Why?”
Remy walked past, ignoring Emile calling after him. He did, however, order, “Get the kid some water and a fucking snack, would you?”
--
The office door to Janus’s room, which was under a strict “knock if you don’t want to get shot” rule, swung open with a loud bang. The desk was empty. Janus must’ve retired to his home above the office.
“Janus!” Remy shouted. “Janus, get the fuck down here. You and I need to have a chat.”
Shuffling above Remy’s head warned him of Janus’s presence. Remy heard Janus’s feet creeping down the stairs.
“Remy, it’s four in the fucking morning,” Janus growled. “Are you serious right now?”
“Are you serious right now?” Remy shot back. “That kid, Logan, what the fuck was up with that?”
Janus blinked stupidly. He descended the rest of the stairs. A yawn escaped his lips, and he stretched his arms over his head.
“Remy, you told me you were fine with kidnapping the kid,” Janus grumbled.
“Yeah, I was,” Remy snapped back, “but I don’t think I kidnapped him. I think I fucking rescued him.”
That woke Janus a little more. He studied Remy for any signs that Remy was joking but disappointedly met an uncharacteristic seriousness. Janus folded his arms.
“Explain.”
“Well, first off, the kid weighs like nothing. I swear, babe, he wouldn’t be a hundred pounds soaking wet. Anyway, I found the kid locked in a hot ass attic with bars on his window. Fucking bars! And that’s not even the best part. No, the best part is when I finally get the kid to my car, and it looks like someone beat him up before I could get there. The kid’s covered in bruises.”
Janus stayed silent though Remy’s angry tirade, his eyes wide and lips parted in surprise.
“And don’t even get me started on the fucking house. Oh, no, this house was just 100 percent bad vibes. There was blood all over the place, and it looked like no one lived in it at all, like it was a television set. The fuck is wrong with these people? Who are they? And how long before I can murder them?”
“Alright, Remy, calm down,” Janus ordered. His hands raised from his side to quell the fuming man in front of him. He gnawed on his lip and sighed through his nose. “You can’t murder them anyway until we get our money.”
“What?”
“You’ve kidnapped dozens of kids. You know how this works.”
“You mean after all this, you’re still willing to let the kid go back to that shithole?”
Janus hesitated. He watched Remy’s chest rise and fall as Remy took deep breaths through his nose. His lips were curled into a snarl, teeth bared and ready to bite. Janus hadn’t seen him this pissed since Remy walked in on Cass being raped.
After a long sigh, Janus said, “I’ll take a look at the kid in the morning. For now, let the poor thing rest. He’s had a rough night.”
“More like a rough fucking life,” Remy grumbled. He said a quick ‘night boss’ before exiting and slamming Janus’s office door closed a little harder than he intended to.
Janus stayed still for a moment. If what Remy said was true, it would be a miracle the Star family was alive to even be paying him back. Janus sighed and returned up the stairs. He put his eye mask back on, flipped over in his bed, and tried not to think too hard about the events that just unfolded.
He’d deal with this mess when he had a fresh cup of coffee.
--
Logan’s senses came back to him one by one. The first thing he noticed was how much his head hurt. He tossed over onto his side. The mattress below him was soft, way too soft, and the blanket over him felt smooth and cool like silk. His ears picked up on soft humming somewhere in the corner of the room. It sounded light and nurturing, like a lullaby on a stormy night.
Logan blinked his eyes open. The blurry wall of a pink-painted bedroom greeted him. Logan’s chest hurt, but he knew that already. He gathered enough strength to roll onto his back. Pain erupted through his ribs, and Logan let out a soft moan.
The humming stopped, and Logan held his breath.
“Well, good morning there, kiddo,” a gentle voice, way too gentle to belong to either of his parents, greeted.
Logan’s head snapped to the side, and he regretted it in an instant. His head spun, and he squeezed his eyes closed to try and compensate.
“Hey, take it easy. I’m not going to hurt you,” the voice spoke again, soft like it was trying to comfort a startled animal.
“Who are you?” Logan asked. “Where am I?”
“My name is Emile, and you’re safe.”
Safe?
Logan opened his eyes once again. This person, Emile, held out Logan’s glasses to him. Logan blinked and put the glasses back on his face. The man in front of him had bright green eyes, pale freckled skin, and a smile that could melt butter. His hair was brown, except for the pink fluff of hair that pillowed his head, and his glasses were round like a grandfather’s. He wore a sweater vest and pink tie with blue and white stripes on it, and his soft pink dress shirt poked out of the top.
“Emile?” Logan questioned.
“That’s right. And you must be Logan Star.”
Logan’s heart pounded. The last part of Emile’s previous answer echoed in his mind. Safe. Someone broke into his house, kidnapped him, and called this safe? Logan sat up fast, but dizziness knocked him back into the wall beside him.
“Whoa, easy there champ. Take some deep breaths. Coming out of chloroform is never easy,” Emile coaxed. He passed a bottle of water over. “Here, drink this.”
“How do I know it isn’t poisoned?” Logan asked.
“That’s a pretty fair question. I can’t really tell you. You’re just going to have to trust me, kiddo.”
Logan eyed the water bottle, then Emile, then the bottle again. His throat begged for a drink, but Logan didn’t trust it. He retreated in on himself and swallowed hard.
“Alright, I get it,” Emile said. He put the bottle on the nightstand and nodded his head. “You don’t have to drink right now if you don’t want to. I’d be pretty scared too if I woke up in a strange place with no memory of how I got here.”
Logan chose to say nothing and instead stared at Emile through the corner of his eye. Emile stood and went back to… whatever he was doing at his desk. His hand glided across a written book of records. Every once and awhile, he’d bring the pen up to nibble on the tip of it.
Logan thought for a moment before he asked, “Why am I here?”
Emile’s head snapped up. He laughed, his shoulders shaking slightly, and responded, “I don’t really know. All I know is you were placed in my arms, and I was told to take care of you.”
“Take care of me? As in… kill me?”
“No!” Emile’s shout made Logan flinch. Emile lowered his voice and added, “No, Logan, I wasn’t asked to kill you. I was asked to get you something to drink and a snack.”
“Oh.”
Emile grabbed a small package of crackers on his desk, and he walked back toward Logan. Logan couldn’t help but press his back against the wall. Emile stopped at an arm’s distance and held out the package of food.
“It’s not much, but it’s still something.”
Logan eyed the package and then looked at Emile. “I’m allergic to peanut butter.”
“Oh! Well, I think we have other packages in the kitchen. What do you like better? Chives and onion or cheese?”
“Chives and onion will do.”
“Alright, I’ll be right back.”
Emile exited the room. The door to his room closed, but the latch stopped it from closing all the way. It popped back open and left a crack to escape.
Logan jumped from the bed and peeked out the door. The hallway was long, way too long to belong to a home, and had tile flooring and plain white walls. Fluorescent lights flickered above him. Logan stepped onto the tile floor and shivered. His bare feet didn’t appreciate the cold, but he would have a better chance now of escaping than he would later.
Slowly, Logan traveled down the hall. His heart pounded in his chest. Where was he, and how did he find a phone to call for help?
No one passed him in the hall. Logan glanced at the watch on his wrist. Six in the morning. If he were home right now, he’d definitely be awake. Logan shuddered at the thought and kept going. Once he got out of here, he was going to run as far away from all this as he could, home and everything.
“Hey.”
Logan froze solid. He didn’t want to, but all his nerves locked up. Logan’s eyes darted around for a place to hide. He spied a door with a round handle and tried to open it.
“Hey!”
Locked. Of course it was locked. Logan turned around, his eyes wide with panic. As the person approached, Logan slid down the door, balled up into a fetal position and covered his head.
“I’m sorry, please don’t hurt me,” Logan begged.
“Shit, no, I wasn’t gonna- hey, kid, it’s okay. Fuck I ain’t- I’m not gonna hurt you, okay?”
Logan couldn’t relax enough to look up. When a hand pressed to his shoulder, he couldn’t stop the scream from tearing through his throat. The hand retracted like Logan burned it, thankfully, and for a moment, Logan tried to catch his breath. Tears blinded his vision.
“Hey, breathe, okay? You gotta, you got- shit I’m not good at this. Hey! Someone get Emile for me would ya?”
Logan heard more feet shuffling, as well as a language he couldn’t understand. French? Italian? Some kind of romantic language, he was sure.
It was a few minutes before Logan was even able to relax enough to look up at the guy. Dark sunglasses, a leather jacket- this looked just like the guy he saw before he passed out. Logan leaned away as far as he could and curled in on himself tighter.
“Remy, what’s wrong?” Emile’s voice asked. A beat skipped before Emile whispered “oh” and more footsteps approached.
Logan couldn’t help the whimper in his throat. His body started to shake, even though there was no logical reason he should be afraid of either Remy or Emile right now. Well, other than Remy knocking him out, kidnapping him, and sticking him in this place.
Emile's voice coaxed, “Alright, Logan, I’m going to need you to look around and tell me some things you see.”
Logan couldn’t move his head from its locked position between his knees.
“Logan?”
“Can’t,” was all Logan could answer.
“Alright, how about some breathing exercises? In seven, hold four, out eight. Can you do that one?”
Logan barely shook his head no.
“Alright, would it help if Remy and I gave you some space?”
After a moment’s hesitation, Logan shook his head yes.
Logan heard feet moving away from him. He took a few deep breaths in to calm himself. Still shaking, Logan’s eyes slowly drifted up. Remy and Emile moved a good ten steps away from him and watched from a safe distance. Logan’s body didn’t stop shaking, but at least he could look up.
“Holy shit,” he heard Remy whisper. Remy’s mouth was pulled into a tight line, his fists visibly shaking. Logan couldn’t take his eyes off him. Remy continued, “I’m gonna kill them.”
Emile didn’t answer. Logan worried about what that meant for him, but he didn’t feel brave enough to ask.
Emile’s voice guided him away. “Logan, we’re not going to hurt you. Why don’t we go back to my room, and we’ll talk over the pack of crackers, okay?”
Logan thought for a moment. He still didn’t know if he could trust either of them, but he was trapped. He couldn’t move to run, and he had no idea where he was or if he could even escape.
Slowly, Logan nodded his head. Emile waited for Logan to stand, never making a move to touch or grab him. Neither did Remy. Logan could feel the anger rolling off Remy like a tidal wave, but he didn’t make any moves to hurt Logan at all. Logan still steered clear from the fuming man.
Eventually, the trio made it back to Emile’s room. Remy and Emile shared a look of pity before Remy closed Emile’s door.
“Why don’t you go have a seat on the bed,” Emile said. He held the pack of crackers out for Logan to take.
Logan didn’t respond. Instead, he took the crackers, sat cross-legged on the bed, and stared at the package of food in his hands.
“Oh, and I didn’t know if you were still thirsty or not, but here,” Emile added on as he held out a box of juice. Logan curled up his nose. Emile lightly laughed and continued, “I’m sorry if apple isn’t your favorite. It was the last one we had in the fridge.”
Still, Logan took it. He tried to pace himself with the crackers, to not show how weak he was to hunger right now, but he had the whole package finished before Emile could start on his second cracker.
“When was the last time you ate?” Emile asked.
Instead of answering, Logan jabbed his straw into his juice box. He sucked on the straw until there was no more juice inside. His eyes darted around for a trash can, and he found one sitting by Emile’s desk. No way was he getting up that close.
Emile must’ve noticed because he grabbed the trash can. He held it in front of him, the top slightly leaning in Logan’s favor, and said “throw it.”
Logan eyed the garbage can, Emile, then the garbage can again. He crushed the juice box in his hand and gave it a throw. It missed. Badly. The juice box skittered across the floor and thunked against the wall well out of the garbage can’s reach. Logan’s ears burned with embarrassment.
“I’m not good at throwing,” Logan mumbled.
“Hey, that’s okay.” Emile got up and grabbed the empty box. It thunked into the garbage can, and Emile put the garbage back in its place. “I was never good at sports either.”
Logan crumbled the wrapper for the crackers in his hand. He knew throwing it wouldn’t make it anywhere close to the garbage can, and so did Emile because he never asked Logan to throw it. Instead, the two gentlemen sat and stared at each other. Emile swiveled back and forth on his computer chair, his teeth gnawing at his lip.
“Hey, you like cartoons at all?” Emile asked.
Logan sighed through his nose. There were a million answers he could give to that, but he mumbled, “I don’t.”
“Oh,” Emile said as his glasses slid down his nose a bit. He put them back. “That’s okay. What do you like?”
Logan thought for a moment. He glanced around Emile’s room, and his eyes landed on a colorful board game in the corner. It definitely wasn't chess, but it caught his interest somehow. Logan tried to speak, but his voice locked in his throat. Instead, he pointed.
Emile followed Logan’s signal, and a smile pulled on his lips. “You like board games?”
Logan nodded his head.
Emile stood from his computer chair, and Logan tried not to run. He stared at Emile as the older man grabbed the colorful board game and brushed it off.
“I haven’t played Candyland in forever,” Emile said, his eyes still on the game. He looked up at Logan. “Do you want to play on the floor or on the bed?”
“Floor,” Logan replied.
Emile started unpacking the game, and Logan watched as Emile shuffled cards and grabbed four pieces from the box.
“What color do you want to be? Do you want red, yellow, green, or blue?”
“Blue, please.”
Emile sighed through his nose. “Ah yes, blue. The color of the sky and the sea, open spaces, freedom, intuition, imagination, inspiration, and sensitivity. Also trust, loyalty, sincerity, wisdom, confidence, stability, faith, and intelligence.”
Logan could only blink at that.
Emile put the blue piece at the start position. His fingers danced over the remaining colors. “What color should I be?”
Logan thought for a minute. Green, yellow, or red? After some quiet contemplation, Logan responded, “Yellow.”
Emile hummed. “Ah, yes, the color of sunshine, hope, and happiness. It’s kind of got a double meaning. On one hand, it’s intellect, honor, loyalty, and joy, but on the other, it represents cowardice, caution, sickness, and deceit. I’m guessing you don’t know what to think of me yet, do you?”
Logan shook his head no, his lips parted in shock. How had Emile been able to guess all that with just a color piece?
“Do you know how to play?” Emile asked. Logan shook his head no. “That’s okay. I’ll explain it to you.”
Logan listened to Emile explaining piece by piece. It was a simple game of luck from what Logan could gather. No skill was needed at all. There were traps and tricks, but nothing that required any wit to get out of.
“And if you get to the top here first, you win,” Emile finished.
“What happens if I win?” Logan asked.
“What do you want to happen? Do you want to go home?” Logan flinched at the suggestion. Emile’s breath caught, and he continued to shuffle the card deck in his hands. “Home life wasn’t great, huh?”
Logan swallowed thickly and shook his head.
“Hey, it’s okay,” Emile coaxed. “I mean, my home life wasn’t exactly the best either, so I get it.”
Logan’s eyebrow popped up in interest. He didn’t want to pry, but the thought of someone knowing what he was going through interested him. If Emile wanted to continue that line of thought, he didn’t say anything. Instead, he placed the cards down on the floor and looked up at Logan expectantly.
Oh, right, if Logan wanted to play, he’d have to get closer.
“I can move you and draw cards for you if you don’t want to,” Emile offered.
Logan’s body relaxed, and he nodded his head.
“Okay, that’s okay. I’ll move you first.”
Emile drew card by card, letting Logan see the results every time. Logan’s eyes followed as Emile moved his piece without cheating. Eventually, Logan found himself on the floor against the bed. Then a little closer. And a little closer. His legs pressed up against the edge of the board. Emile made no move to grab or otherwise suggest he was going to hurt Logan at all.
When it was his turn, Logan drew a card from the deck. He spied the color he got. Red. Stop. Freeze. Run. Danger. His eyes popped up to Emile.
“So, what did you get, kiddo?” Emile asked.
“Red.”
“Oh, good! You’re almost at the top,” Emile informed. Logan looked down at the game. Only one more color and Logan would win. Emile continued, “Did you figure out what you wanted to win yet?”
Logan’s head popped back up. He watched Emile for a moment before he finally formed his answer. “I want to speak to your boss.”
Emile’s eyes widened. His glasses slipped down his nose a bit, and Emile pushed them back up. After some thought, he responded, “I can see if Janus would talk to you.”
Janus. The name rang a bell in Logan’s head, but he couldn’t place where. He watched Emile for a moment as Emile drew his own card. Emile moved his piece accordingly, and he waited for Logan to make his move. Logan drew. Purple. The last color.
“I win,” Logan said.
Emile laughed and slapped his hands onto his knees. “Way to go, kiddo! Do you want to play again?”
Logan stared blankly at him. Emile fidgeted in his spot. Logan answered, “We had a deal.”
“Right, uh, okay.” Emile’s shoulders shook. “I should’ve made you tell me what you wanted before we started to play.”
Logan’s courage surfaced, and he responded, “But you didn’t, and I won. I want to speak to your boss.”
Emile’s eyes warily observed Logan. After a moment, Emile sighed and stood. He dusted off his pants legs and said, “Alright, Logan, we can go see him.”
Logan was on his feet before he realized what happened. Emile’s light laugh of amusement followed him to the door. Logan spied the garbage can and dumped his discarded wrapper from his crackers inside the bin. Emile held the door open so Logan could leave first, and the two of them traveled down the long hallway.
From what Logan could tell, this looked just like a hotel. There were rooms with numbers on them, some locked and some ajar. Pictures and decorations hung on the wall. Some spiders made their homes in the corners, but other than that, there wasn’t a speck of dust around. A man mopped the floor with headphones in his ears, but he didn’t pay any mind to Emile or Logan.
Emile pressed the button for the elevator, and Logan watched the numbers descend. It hit the third floor, and the doors swung open. Emile went in first, and Logan followed. The star button lit up, and Logan waited for the elevator to rise.
Three floors passed them before they reached the floor they wanted to.
When the doors opened, the sounds and sights of a busy office greeted them. A few people stopped their work to stare, some even said hello, and some continued as if this was a normal everyday thing. Surprisingly, Logan didn’t mind the attention. It was nothing like the pure idolization he got on the street. It was natural, normal, something he was very much not used to.
The door at the end of the hall had a glass window with the words “Janus Escamas” written on them. Logan swallowed. Emile knocked to the rhythm of “shave and a haircut” and waited.
“Enter,” the buzzer on the door answered.
Emile took one last glance at Logan before he swung the door open. He held the door, motioning for Logan to enter. Logan hesitated for a minute before his feet followed the orders.
The room inside had hardwood floors, white walls, and one window with blinds covering it. At least one plant housed every corner. Several pictures lined the walls, each with people that Logan didn’t recognize. A college certificate in business was next to a man receiving a diploma. The desk in the center was made of solid oak if Logan had to guess. A computer blocked the view of the person behind it, and a bag of chips rustled as the owner took a bite.
“Janus, there’s someone here to see you,” Emile announced. Logan felt all the courage drain from his body, but a gentle hand on his shoulder reminded him Emile was still there.
The man behind the computer stood. Logan felt bad, but his eyes immediately went to the burn scar covering the entire left side of the man’s face, as well as his neck. He had a bowler hat on, like what a villain from early cartoons would wear, a black suit, a white dress shirt with a yellow tie, and neatly pressed yellow gloves. As he walked toward them, Logan noticed his left eye was a lighter shade of brown than the other.
“Well, it’s nice to finally meet you, Logan Star,” this man, Janus, said.
Logan could only swallow and press his back into Emile’s stomach.
“Logan wanted to meet you,” Emile said for him.
“Did he now?” Janus said. His eyes traveled up and down Logan’s body, and for a moment, Logan worried Janus would hurt him. “I’m sure he has a lot of questions, like why he’s here and what I plan on doing to him.”
Logan opened his mouth to speak, but he closed it soon after.
“I’m sure you’re aware of your father’s gambling problem, aren’t you?”
Logan nodded his head.
“Well, your dear old father borrowed a lot of money from me to feed his addiction, and he’s taking his dear old time repaying me. I’m starting to get impatient. So, I’ve offered him a deal. If he wants his money-making son to come back and give him a paycheck, he’s going to pay me back the 3 million dollars he owes me.”
“Three million?” Logan’s lips floundered. “My father would-”
“Never borrow that much money?”
“Never pay that back,” Logan mumbled.
“He’ll pay it back if he wants you back.” Janus watched Logan for a reaction. “I mean, you are his only source of income, aren’t you?”
Logan’s head snapped up at that. Janus’s lips were pulled into a cutting line, his eyes cold but sympathetic. Logan lamely nodded his head, and he heard Emile mutter something in the same language he couldn’t understand.
Janus thought for a moment before he continued, “Well, then, if he wants to keep piggybacking off your success like the scum he is, he’ll pay to get you back.”
Logan opened his mouth, closed it, and then looked at the floor. Emile’s eyes went from Logan to Janus, and he sighed through his nose.
“You’re not seriously thinking about giving Logan back if this man makes the payment, are you?” Emile asked.
“Of course not.”
Logan’s head snapped up at that. A shriek of fear tore from his throat, and he backed up into Emile’s chest. Emile ran a hand through his hair, whispering sweet words.
Janus’s eyes met Logan once again, but this time, they were passionate. He announced, “I plan on turning him in for child abuse. He’s lucky I want my money back, or I’d do it right here and now. There’s no way the police would ignore a child star injured like this. What I’m wondering is: how did he get away with it for this long?”
The room silenced, and Logan realized they were both waiting for him to answer. Logan opened his mouth to breathe, but he couldn’t say anything.
“Logan, you don’t have to talk about anything you’re not ready to yet,” Emile coaxed. His feather-light touch on Logan’s shoulders rubbed up and down in a soothing motion.
Janus nodded his head, and he continued, “I can imagine what you’ve gone through. Please know I mean you no harm. You’re safe here, Logan.”
And with that, Logan collapsed onto his knees. It startled both Emile and Janus, who moved toward him but stopped short. Logan covered his mouth as he began to cry, his whole body shaking. Whether it was from fear or relief, he didn’t know.
Safe.
He was safe here.
They weren’t going to send him back to that hell.
Logan eventually felt Emile kneel beside him once again, a light touch on his back. Logan didn’t know how long he sat on the floor and cried, but he knew Emile never left him, and if it bothered Janus, he said nothing.
After sniffling a few times, Logan eventually formed a sentence. “What are you going to do with me then?”
Janus sighed and removed his hand to scratch his hair. He responded, “That’s completely up to you. Do you have any family you could escape to?”
Logan shook his head.
“No aunts or uncles or cousins or grandparents?”
Logan hesitated then shook his head.
“A friend? A good friend or a neighbor you could live with?”
Logan shook his head harder.
Janus cursed under his breath. “Give me something to work with here, kid. I’m not giving you over to child services.”
Logan’s head snapped up at that. He opened his mouth but closed it soon after.
“I could take him in.”
Both Janus and Logan turned their attention to Emile. Emile’s lips were pulled into a serious line, and he added, “You know I could easily take care of him, and I always wanted-”
“Absolutely not,” Janus replied. “I’m not getting him sucked into this life, and neither are you.”
“But he could live here and not work for the organization.”
The organization?
Janus sighed heavily. “No, Emile.”
“But-”
“I said no, and that’s a direct order! I’m not going to have a thirteen-year-old child running around this place.”
Logan could feel Emile’s shoulders shaking. He turned, and whether it was fear, rage, or holding in his sorrow, Emile was indeed shaking. His heart broke. With a steeled determination, Logan turned his head back to Janus.
“I want to stay with Emile.”
Janus rose a brow and snapped his attention to him. Emile sucked in a surprised breath behind him.
“Did I ask for your opinion?” Janus asked.
“You said it was up to me. I want to stay here. With Emile.”
“No,” Janus answered again.
“Then how about a bet?” Logan asked. That seemed to pique Janus’s interest, and Logan responded, “If I win, I get to stay, but if you win, I leave. Deal?”
“Janus,” Emile hissed under his breath, but Janus’s rose hand stopped him from continuing.
“It’s a deal,” Janus replied, “but I pick the game.”
Logan looked ready to argue, but he nodded his head and said, “Deal.”
Janus’s lips curled up into a smile. He pulled a deck of cards from his desk and started to shuffle them. “Do you know the rules of poker?”
“I might,” Logan replied.
“Janus,” Emile warned again, but Janus’s cold glare stopped him once again.
“Good,” Janus responded. “One round. Whoever wins this game wins the bet. Got it?”
Logan nodded his head. Janus passed the deck of cards to Emile, who eyed Janus warily. He shuffled for what felt like forever, then passed out the cards to both Janus and Logan. The two players watched each other for any signs of victory, but both of them had excellent poker faces.
“So, you’re sure you still want the bet?” Janus asked.
“No distractions,” Logan responded.
“I’m not trying to distract you. I’m just wondering what you’re going to do if you lose.”
“I won’t lose.”
“If you say so.”
Janus watched Logan, and a grin crossed his face. He laid all five cards down on the floor. An ace, two, three, four, and five. All hearts. “Straight.”
Logan and Emile stared down at the cards. Emile’s shoulders sagged, and he leaned back. Logan watched Emile for a moment before he returned his gaze back to Janus.
“So, where do you want to go, kid?” Janus asked, his lip curled into a smirk.
Logan kept his face calm as he replied, “Here.”
“Oh, I do believe that wasn’t part of our bet,” Janus replied. “You lost.”
“Did I?”
Janus’s smile slowly slipped away from his face. Emile’s head turned to Logan, optimism rising in his eyes.
Logan laid his cards on the floor. A king, a queen, a jack, a ten, and an ace. All clubs. Janus’s lips floundered, and Emile let out a surprised, happy cry. Logan continued to keep his poker face as he proclaimed, “A royal flush.”
“Well, I’ll be damned,” Janus responded. He looked over at Emile, who held up his hands in surrender.
“I didn’t cheat, I swear.”
“No, I watched you the whole time,” Janus said with a sigh. He stood and walked back to his desk. “FIne, you get to keep the kid.”
Logan and Emile shared a look, Emile’s eyes tearing with relief as Logan sent a small but encouraging smile back. Emile grabbed onto his pants legs to keep himself from tackling Logan right then and there.
“Though Logan,” Janus replied, “While I do appreciate a good cheat here and there, the next time you want to hide cards up your sleeve, know that I’m not going to shoot you because you’re a kid, but I will make your life here unpleasant.”
Logan’s smile slowly slipped away. He glanced over at Emile, who sucked in his lip and bit the skin.
“Come on, Logan. Let’s go find you a room so you don’t have to sleep in mine,” Emile said. He extended his hand down for Logan to take, but Logan passed it up. Emile retracted it and tried not to take offense. Logan shared one last look at Janus before the two men stepped out of the office.
For the whole trip toward the elevator, Emile and Logan didn’t say a word to each other. Logan kept stealing glances at Emile, but Emile looked too lost in thought to acknowledge him at the moment.
The elevator doors dinged, and both Logan and Emile stepped inside. Emile pushed the button to the third floor, and the elevator began its descent. Logan thought long and hard about his next sentence. He took a deep breath and exhaled.
“Something on your mind, kiddo?” Emile asked.
Logan hesitated before he questioned, “If he noticed it, why didn’t he call me on it?”
Emile’s smile didn’t leave his face. “Because I think deep down, Janus didn’t want you to leave.”
Logan accepted the answer. The doors opened, and Emile led Logan down the hallway. The numbers passed by in a numb blur. Eventually, Emile stopped at a room, 383, and unlocked it with a universal key.
The room was rather plain. A single bed with a white sheet sat in the corner, along with a nightstand. The floor had a squishy brown carpet with white speckles in it to hide the dirt or anything else that spilled on it. A television was propped up on the wall, and a computer stood on a desk against the far wall, complete with surround sound and a swivel chair.
“It’s not much, but we can make this place feel like a home in no time,” Emile said.
“It’s better than what I had.”
Emile's heart cracked a bit at that. He walked inside and put his hands on his hips. “Would you like me to leave you alone for a bit, kiddo?”
Logan nodded his head.
Emile put the keys back into his pocket and showed Logan the lock on the back of the door. “Don’t worry. No one can lock you in.”
Logan nodded his head.
“You can go upstairs to the weight room any time you want. It���s on the second floor. Oh, and we have a pool on the first floor, but that’s only open when the lifeguard is on duty. The kitchen is open all night long, and everything is free, so don’t worry about paying for any food. There’s a library on floor 4, but that’s not open until around noon today, and it closes around 10 at night. The only place you shouldn’t go is either Janus’s office, unless it’s an emergency of course, or floor five. You need a special key to get down there anyway, but just a heads up, you won’t like it if you open it.”
“What’s on floor five?” Logan asked before he could stop himself.
Emile shook his head and chewed on his lip. “Some things are just better left alone, trust me.”
Logan wanted a true answer, but he accepted the passive one for now. Emile reached into his pocket and pulled out a cell phone. He handed it over to Logan.
“This has Remy’s number in it, as well as Janus and a few other people that can help you if you need it,” Emile explained. “There are a few games on it too, like solitaire and sudoku.”
Logan looked at the phone in his hands, which had some cartoon character on the back of it, and back up to Emile. “How do you know I’m not going to call the cops and turn you all in for kidnapping?”
“I don’t.”
Logan watched Emile for a moment, waiting for him to continue. The sad smile on Emile’s face suggested it happened before.
At last, Emile continued, “But I trust you.”
Logan couldn’t say anything to that. He watched Emile close the door, and true to his word, the lock never clicked shut. Logan, however, locked it just to make himself feel a little more secure. He still didn’t totally trust these people, but… but Emile seemed like a good person. And Janus was at least a sensible person from what he could tell. And even Remy, who he knew kidnapped him, didn’t make a move to hurt him.
Maybe… maybe this place wouldn’t be so bad after all. Maybe he could even call this place… home.
--
Janus heard Emile’s signature knock. He sighed through his nose and called out “Enter.”
Emile opened the door, and he closed it soon after. Janus didn’t look up from his work, but he could tell by Emile’s failure to say anything, something was up. “You’re upset I let the kid win?”
“No,” Emile responded. He let out a long sigh. “I’m happy you did, but Janus, did he really cheat?”
“I don't know. I simply guessed,” Janus responded. “For all I knew, the kid got lucky. I just didn’t want him to think I got outsmarted by a thirteen-year-old.”
“Ah yes, your reputation,” Emile joked.
“That’s not the only thing on your mind, is it?”
“These people,” Emile said, “they’re going to pin it all on us. The abuse, the kidnapping, the world’s going to be against us. You’re not really thinking of exposing these people, are you?”
“As much as I would love to, I know I can’t,” Janus responded. “I’m better off just shooting them myself. Or, better yet, giving a gun to Logan so he can take revenge.”
“You really don’t think he would-”
“I don’t think so, no, but the choice would be his, and I think he should be the one to pull the trigger if we ever go down that road.”
“Janus, you’re letting a child become a killer.”
“No, I’m not. I’m giving him the power they took away from him. Either Logan is a killer, or he’s not. We all have the choice to murder, but what we do says more about us than what we want to do. You should know that more than any of us.”
Emile nodded his head. He let out a long sigh before he said, “Thanks, Janus, for giving Logan to me.”
“It was his choice. I didn’t do anything.” At that, Janus did look over his computer screen. “But I expect you to keep him out of trouble, got it?”
“Of course.”
“And he better not go to the fifth floor.”
“I already told him.”
“Good. Watch him. I have a feeling after a while rules aren’t going to hinder his curiosity, at least, if he’s anything like you it won’t.”
Emile did smirk at that. He put his hand on the door handle to leave.
“Oh, and Emile.”
Emile turned. Janus stood from behind his desk, his hands folded behind his back. His eyes barely peeked out from under the brim of his hat.
Janus continued, “Don’t think I’m about to let you adopt any kid that walks through those doors. I meant it when I said no more kids. Got it?”
Emile hesitated for a moment. He nodded his head before he replied, “Of course.”
With a light close of the door, Emile left Janus alone with his thoughts. Janus sighed and flipped a picture down on his desk. He walked over to the stairs, too tired from today’s events to continue being a crime boss for the day. Logan’s face kept appearing in his mind, but Janus chased it away every time.
“No more kids,” Janus whispered to himself in finality.
#sanders sides#remy sanders#logan sanders#dr. emile picani#janus sanders#totally not despicable dee au#I don't know how to play poker so the scene is ripped from The Parent Trap#You will never meet Logan's parents but you're going to hate them anyway#Remy has a potty mouth and no apology for it and neither do I#so does Janus#Logan is also a cunning little shit so there's that#and Emile just wants to adopt a kid#June 2020
844 notes
·
View notes
Text
Time to Park Smart: The Rise of Automated Parking Systems in India!
The idea of an automated car parking system is one whose time has certainly come! As Indian cities face rapid urbanization, space is increasingly at a premium. Urban planners and developers are now turning to automated parking solutions to maximize parking capacity in tight spaces — a win-win for both efficiency and sustainability.
What is an Automated Parking System (APS)?
In simple terms, an APS is a mechanical system designed to minimize the space required for parking. Think of it as a vertical stacking system for cars, reducing land usage while maximizing capacity. These systems come in various forms, but they can be broadly classified into:
Fully Automatic Systems: No need for attendants here! A fully automatic system whisks your car away from the entry point and parks it for you in a vacant spot. Retrieval? Just as smooth — with no human intervention required.
Semi-Automatic Systems: These systems need some input from either the driver or an attendant to move the car, but the rest is taken care of by the system.
How Does an APS Work?
Think of it as valet parking, but with a tech twist! You drive into the designated bay or ramp, park in the marked spot, turn off the engine, and simply walk away. The system’s sensors then scan the vehicle, identifying its size and shape. Then, mechanical arms, electro-mechanical components, and shuttle systems spring into action — lifting, shifting, and slotting the car into an available spot, either vertically or horizontally.
The entire process takes just about two minutes — quicker than you can finish your cup of coffee! And when it’s time to leave? The system will bring your car right back to you, facing the exit if equipped with a turntable, so you can drive straight out without any need to reverse.
Why Automated Parking is a ‘Smart’ Move!
With automated parking systems, the benefits are clear as day. For starters, they squeeze more cars into smaller spaces — perfect for cities where land is precious. There’s no need for ramps, stairways, or elevators, and because cars are parked closer together (with no need for door clearance), even more space is saved.
Safety and security also get a boost. With no access to parked cars until retrieved, theft, vandalism, and accidental damage are drastically reduced. Plus, since your car engine is turned off while the system handles parking, fuel savings add up — meaning fewer CO2 emissions. Talk about being eco-friendly and economical!
Best of all? Automated systems can be tailored to any space, whether above ground or underground, making them versatile for urban or suburban settings.
Why Choose Wohr?
With over six decades of experience in the parking game, Wohr stands as a global leader in automated parking solutions. We offer cutting-edge automated parking systems that are designed for the future. Take the Combiparker 555, for example. With the ability to stack up to 8 levels high and stretch up to 7 grids horizontally, it’s perfect for car service centers, commercial complexes, and even residential buildings. This system cleverly uses sliding carrier units to stack vehicles, with transport lifts ensuring smooth vertical movement.
Looking for something sleek and efficient? Enter the Slimparker 557, Wohr’s tower parking system. Ideal for narrow spaces, this system can go up to 6 levels high, accommodating up to 4 cars per level. Its compact design makes it perfect for tight urban spots, offering a smart solution without compromising on convenience.
Conclusion: Parking Problems? Wohr’s Got You Covered!
From real estate developers to small building owners, from urban planners to commercial architects — everyone is looking for smarter ways to park. Wohr’s advanced technology and customizable solutions make them the go-to choice for anyone needing more space with less hassle. So why settle for a traditional parking lot, when you can park smart with Wohr’s automated parking systems? Your parking problems just found their solution! Learn More:
#automatic car parking system#tower car parking#automated car parking system#tower Parking System#automatic parking system
0 notes
Text
Three Days ~ 87

Emma
Slow dancing and kissing in the middle of the floor had been as perfect of goodbye as a goodbye could be. Sebastian had updated his playlists. There was nothing sexual. Every song was I love you, I've been waiting for you, I'm happy you're mine. Intense love songs. I felt every one. I stayed in the moment, focusing on how good this felt. We held each other, swaying to the music and alternating between my head laying on his shoulder, gazing in the other's eyes, or kissing. We were in our own little bubble. There was nothing but how his body felt against mine, how he smelled, and the look of his face. All I felt was encapsulated in a swirl of feelings. Love, joy, and a touch of sadness hiding on the edge.
The bubble burst with the knock on the door. Time to go. there was no chance of getting through this without tears. Strong emotions always bring tears. I don't fight them. Letting them out feels better. I don't think emotions are anything to be ashamed of or hide. They're also not something to manipulate others with.
At the car, we were both crying. Not holding onto each other sobbing, just tears.
Saying goodbye was hard. His "I love you. I'll miss you. I'll talk to you Later. Send nudes." broke the sadness enough to get the car door closed. I watched him slide away. I wiped away a few more tears before talking myself down. Six weeks was a long fucking time, but it wasn't forever. It would probably feel like it, however.
My solution was to avail myself of the Air France business class lounge. Two shots of tequila and I switched to wine. It went better with the cheese. I was going to have to hit the gym hard when I got home. And eat better. Not today though I was sad and there was free cheese.
As usual, I was asleep before we reached cruising altitude. I woke up with about five hours to go. Fingers crossed that helped with the jet lag. I put on my favorites playlist and read until we landed.
Emma ~ I’ve landed Sebastian ~ Yay! Emma ~ Go back to sleep. Sebastian ~ XOXO
I knew he had an early call time tomorrow. It was only five pm here in New York. Closer to seven by the time I got back to Sebastian's place. I made it long enough to throw a load of laundry into the washer and the cheese into the fridge before crawling into bed. I took over his side of the bed, sniffing the pillows to find the one that smelled most like him. I curled around it and was out.
Five am was the latest my body was going to let me sleep. That was eleven am in France. So too early for New York and kinda late for France. I grabbed my phone to take a sleepy selfie but was distracted by my text notification. Sebastian had sent me a picture of him reclining on a couch, not in our rooms, with Guiletta asleep on his chest.
Sebastian ~ Found someone new to sleep on my chest.
I continued with my original plan to take an up-close picture of my eyes peeking out over the top of his pillow. My hair was a mess, my eyes look half-asleep, and there was a faint pillow crease on my temple. Perfect.
Emma ~ I miss you too
The sun was up with a bright blue sky. Since it was Saturday the traffic at this time of day would be much less. I had a clean pair of shorts, but not a shirt. No problem. My boyfriend had t-shirts. A little big, but perfectly functional. Runners, earphones, keys and I was out the door for an early morning run.
The city was beautiful. sunlight crept around corners and over the tops of shorter buildings. I ran south past the 9-11 memorial to Battery Park. I'd always been fascinated by the metal world with tears and chunks missing. The first time I'd seen I'd said out loud, "It looks like the world blew up." I guess I wasn't far off. The sculpture had been in the World Trade Center Plaza and been damaged by falling debris. I was only eight and all I remember was my parents being glued to CNN for hours. It would be years later, when I called the city home, before I really understood. As much as a non-native New Yorker could.
The worst thing about running this early was all the stores were closed. The best thing about running this early was all the stores were closed. I admit my shopping had been out of hand. In my defense, it had been a very long time since I'd had someone to dress up for. Don't take that wrong. Beacon dates with a man or friends was an opportunity to dress up. Coming into New York to be with Angie and Eli was a good opportunity. Both opportunities I used well. Still, having a man appreciate what you wear and how you look in it is another level. I know what I look good in. I'm not changing my choices for Sebastian, or any man, but I will take his preferences into account. Shopping right now would be a bad idea. I’m sure I'm packing around a few extra pounds of cheese, bread, and wine. I'm hoping all the walking mitigated some of the damage.
On my way back, a couple of blocks from Sebastian's the city was waking up. More people and sounds. I realized tonight would be the first time I'd been alone in the city in about five years. I made plans to sit in the dark and just listen. I picked up a bagel and a smoothie that I was told would rejuvenate me. I wonder if the barista could tell? I broke into Sebastian's stash of nut butter. Half a bagel with cashew butter the other with almond. Cashew was better.
Being alone in his space is weird. None of my stuff is here. It's like a hotel, but not. I got a little nosey after I'd showered and dressed. Not in a going through his drawers and medicine cabinet nosey. Looking at his DVD and CD collection. Running my fingers down the spines of his books, pulling out ones that caught my interest to thumb through. I made a stack of things I wanted to read. I did go through his kitchen pretty thoroughly. It looks like a single man who travels and eats out a lot lives here. He doesn't have flour. How does one not have flour? He does have quite a condiment collection. I threw out expired things and made a list to replace them. That led me on a short journey to see if there was anything else he was almost out of and added things to the list.
Time to call the best friends. Angie picked up on the third ring, her voice excited to hear from me, "You're home!"
"I’m at Sebastian's. I meet with my advisor Monday."
"I want to see all the pictures and hear all the stories. We're going out tonight. Some friends are playing. You're welcome."
"Can I let you know later? I don't know what the time change is going to do."
"Absolutely. So.... " the paused after dragging out the word, "are you missing him? How was goodbye?"
"Goodbye took forever. Neither of us wanted to let go. At least half a dozen last kisses. Sucked. I miss him, but I'm okay. I'll be fine when I get home and am doing stuff. I've cleaned expired shit out of his kitchen and made a grocery list."
"That's cute. Hope he thinks so."
I hadn't thought about his opinion one way or another. I was just getting rid of shit before it stank up the place. "He won't care."
We talked for a while, deciding we'd do brunch tomorrow.
I was bored. I didn't lack for things to do, but I didn't have a routine here. Especially not without him. It didn't feel like home without him. Once I'd figured that out I was good and went about making myself at home.
I'd changed Sebastian's ringtone from "Dancing Queen" to my favorite part in "Every Time I’m With You." It was near the end after a heavy drumbeat "cause every time I'm with you I feel wanted. We could make believers if we dare. We're just two believers if we dare." It was incredible the first time we'd danced to it and it was incredible now. I heard it about six, midnight in France.
I'd barely registered his face before I heard his voice, "If I put that picture on my laptop and my laptop in the bed, I can pretend it's you."
I felt warm all over and smiled, "Yes, you can. Tell me about the first day of shooting."
"It was good. Long, but good. I'm comfortable with Jess and I like her direction." He told me stories that made me proud and made me laugh. "I did well today. What have you been up to?"
I gave him a quick rundown on my day, leaving the bit about making myself at home until last.
He closed his eyes and shook his head. "I can't believe you restocked my kitchen. Thank you. Do whatever you want to feel at home."
"What if I reorganized your drawers because your way doesn't make sense?"
"Have at it. I'll just think I forget and think I did it."
"And your kitchen so it flows better."
He shook his head, "I don't know what that means. Knock yourself out."
I laughed, "I didn't do either."
I loved the lines that formed at the corners of his eyes when he genuinely smiled. Like now, "I don't care what you do. I just want you to feel at home.”
Now we were where I wanted to be, "Here's the thing... my favorite foods in your kitchen, finding where I'm most comfortable to work on my laptop, and figuring out where has the best view when I want to relax with a book are good, but it's not enough. Doing all that did help me figure what's missing."
"What's missing and where can we get it?"
"It's free and I already found it. You make where ever we are home. You're my home."
"I'm your home." He looked a little dazed.
"When you were in my place I felt at home. At your parents, I felt at home. Being at your place with you I was perfectly at home. Paris too. Now I’m back and I did things to feel at home. Took a while until I realized its missing something. You. When I'm with you, wherever we are, I’m home."
I could tell he was processing, by the way his tongue moved, "I like that."
He kept thinking, squinting his eyes a little, "I don't know if you're my home. Not sure where home is. Sometimes I don't feel at home in my own skin. I like that I’m your home." He cringed, "The next couple of weeks are going to suck for you."
I banred out a laugh, "No, once I knew what the issue was I adjusted. I'm good now."
"You don't miss me anymore?"
"Oh, I miss you a lot." Were transitioned into silly conversation.
"Ok, good."
I gasped, "You want me to suffer?"
"Terribly." His eyes were wide as he nodded his head. "So much so that when you see me again you throw yourself into my arms and hold on so tight I can't breathe."
"Therefore making you suffer."
"Yes, please."
I did end up going out with Angie and Eli. Thankfully it was a jeans sort of bar. My hope was if I stayed moving I'd fall over, get a good night's sleep, and get back on New York time. It was a good fun night.
Sunday I took a run before getting ready for Angie to come over. I'd bribed her with her favorite home-cooked meal. I had her take pictures of me in various outfits around his apartment. At one point Angie rolled her eyes, "I can not believe I'm taking pictures of you rolling around in his bed."
"Six weeks, Angie. I suck at selfies. I need a stockpile to pull from."
"What you need is a class in basic photo editing on an iPhone."
"I know."
We went back to her place, stopping for supplies on the way. A few hours later we were feasting on cilantro lime salmon, a creamy garlic parmesan orzo, and a greek salad. I've taught Angie to cook this several times, but she tells me it's never quite right. I think she skimps on the butter and that's a big no. And a healthy splash of the Sauvignon blanc lifts the whole thing a little.
Sebastian and I exchanged texts over the course of the day. A comment or question with stretches of time between answers. Mostly from him. I got excited when an unexpected text came through. His response to my dinner picture was a request for the same meal. Maybe with his parents.
Monday was a busier day. I had to dress like a doctoral student, pack my bags, clean up after myself, and plant surprises like the notes I keep finding in my condo. Mine are more fun. The green g- string from concert night is mixed in with his boxers. A couple of dresses parked next to something they matched well. A peach tank top mixed in with his workout gear. I had Angie take a picture in each room. Printed and framed them. My favorite is me sitting on the toilet. It has a lovely frame and is now on the wall across from the throne. I wanted everything ready for me to leave for home straight from my advisory meeting
My advisory meeting lasted a little over three hours. Three good hours. Dr. Kershaw had been appointed my advisor. I'd taken a class with her while working on my Master's and my second winter in Beacon, but at the time I'd been excited to work with students and studying digital classroom technology was something I wasn't wanting to explore. I wanted to be hands-on molding little minds and still wasn't sure what I wanted to do, but I'd enjoyed working on our team's website. Google Classroom was functional but limited by design. Three hours later I had it narrowed down.
Sebastian had texted me good luck this morning with a picture of his face, eyes closed and lips puckered. I'd sent back a picture of my legs, crossed at the ankles with my skirt draped to the side, while sitting in his favorite chair. I was more than halfway home when his ringtone came through my vehicle's speaker. I hit the button, "Hey, baby."
I could hear his smile in his voice, "Sounds like your lunch went well."
"It did!" I was still excited from lunch and the phone call with Angie after. "I like my advisor. There's only ten of us in the program with the plan to add ten more each fall."
"Wow!" He interjected. "So being accepted is even more impressive."
"Yeah." I was proud of myself. "Small and first-year makes everything very personalized. All of the potential classes overlap with other programs. Cognitive theory from Psych, advanced reading from Education, some Education Law and leadership, computer tech, and even game design. We spent a lot of time talking about what I’m passionate about. In the and I’m thinking I want to focus on reading intervention and programming for K-3."
"Which is what you're passionate about."
I laughed, "and you."
"And me. Did you just talk about direction or is there a plan? What coursework did they accept."
"The fifteen hours I've taken will apply. We designed a basic timeline. I've taken six hours the last two years. I'm confident I can handle that with work and having a life. If I want to take more I can. I don't want to take classes in the summer. Those are usually compressed and pretty intense, plus I'm not in a hurry. Somewhere in the middle, I write a thesis, which looks at a problem or a hole in what already exists. That will feed into my dissertation. I can either do research and design an experiment like comparing existing programs or create my own product."
"Any idea which way you want to go?"
"None at all. I figure the thesis will help figure that out."
"And when do I have to start calling you Doctor?" The seductive tone in his voice told me "have to" wasn't going to be a hardship.
"Three to four years. No summers and using the last semester for my dissertation is four. If I add a class in a couple of semesters or summer and do my dissertation concurrently then three. I have to be done in ten. I'm thinking I’ll figure out what I want to do the first two then design and implement the last two. A lot will depend on how long that takes." He couldn't see me, but I was waving a hand in the air. "It will work itself out."
"I love you."
"I love you. Enough me, tell me about your day."
We talked the rest of the way home where we had some fun.
I called Seattle and went through it all again with Ed. He was as excited and proud of me as was Seb. I found it a little sadly ironic that my lover was in a time zone six hours ahead, my family was three hours behind, and the ones in the same time zone weren't going to know for a few days. I didn't trust them to not take away from my accomplishment, neither did Ed, which meant they'd have to wait. Hell, they barely knew I'd been in France. They'd get to know once I was finished celebrating with people who would just be happy for me. That pushed a Georgia phone call off to the weekend after the volleyball tournament. Maybe after practice tomorrow if I could get my school lunch bunch to come for drinks, I’d even buy. I had no problem funding my own celebration. I just wanted my friends there. Angie and Eli were coming for the weekend. Maybe I'd call while they were here. Eli could make angry faces while Angie tried to scold him. Then either way it went we could drink our way through. That was a good plan. I texted all involved and they agreed.
I ran back out to the grocery for fresh berries, yogurt, and wine to go with my cheese. I bought other good for detox items and healthy foods. A stopped by a smoothie shop for a raspberry white chocolate protein drink. It was amazing how quickly I slid into my summer schedule. Run to the gym to work out. Run home. Have breakfast and practice guitar. Do whatever until it was warm enough to go lay by the pool and read or float. Have dinner, meet up with friends, volleyball practice, or lay on the couch with Netflix
Sebastian and I would text sporadically throughout the day. About nine my time, so three am for him, I'd send him a picture. One Angie took or something I'd taken during the day. He always woke up to see me. Some days that was more arousing than others. We talked almost every day. Maybe five minutes or an hour. Night shoots were the worst. He was working while I was awake and I was asleep during his time off.
The weekend Angie and Eli came down was fun. Friday night we stayed in watching movies and drinking. Saturday's tournament was going well until storms came through. The radar said there were hours of rain left, so they canceled. Since all our plans had been canceled we decided on a bar crawl. Which meant Sunday was spent recovering. We went to brunch at the riverside restaurant where Sebastian and I had our first date. On the drive back I made plans for calling Georgia. Angie and Eli were my get away plan. We went out on the back patio. I set up my iPad where they would only see me, but I could see my support system.
Dad picked up almost immediately, “Hey, Emma. You’re home. Amy told us you were in France.”
“Sebastian had an event so we made it a short vacation.”
“Sounds fun.” My mom had entered the frame. “I bet you appreciated things you overlooked before.”
I laughed, “I did. All those things I saw pictures of later and wished I’d paid more attention to. We had a good time.”
“That’s great.”
Time to dive in. “I wanted to tell you some good news.”
Amy jumped into frame and interrupted, “Can I hear too?”
I ignored the question and just went on, “I was accepted into a new Doctoral program at NYU. It’s education and digital media. It’s new so we’re building my program as we go.”
“That’s great news, Emma.” Dad looked excited, “Dissertation and everything?”
“Yes, it can be research or designing a project. I’ve got about three years to get that figured out. They accepted the post-grad classes I’ve been taking.”
“Congratulations, sweetheart. We’re proud of you.” Mom’s smile was bright.
“My baby sister is going to be a Doctor. I need to figure out my future.”
I shook my head, “You’ll figure it out. What’s right for you and my beautiful niece. She’s a job and a half.”
“I am not enjoying this age.”
“That’s why I teach first grade and not kindergarten or preschool.”
We talked a bit more about school, what was going on there, and how things were with Amy and Max. Mom asked about Sebastian, where he was, and if things were good between us. Instead of shutting her down, like I had in the car, I talked about him.
Not a minute after we hung up Amy texted, “How’s Sebastian feel about calling you Dr? *wink*wink*”
I sent back, “Exactly, like that.”
I closed my tablet and looked at my friends. I was not comfortable. Sure, the conversation had gone fine, but it didn’t feel fine. “That went better than expected.”
“This time.” Eli grimaced, “Sorry.”
“That’s what makes this so hard. This looks normal, but it’s not. If it was, I wouldn’t have this not in the bit of my stomach and want friends here when I talk to them. That’s not normal.”
Angie came over to kneel beside me, bringing me into a hug, “No, it’s not. You don’t need us when you call Seattle.”
Eli joined us, “I don’t think they know what they’re doing, but it doesn’t change it, Emma.”
I laughed, “I know.” I kissed his cheek. Dealing with my parents was worse for him than it was for me. I hated seeing people I love hurt too. I wasn’t hurt though. It was a weird numb.
“You ok, Em?”
I met Angie’s eyes, “I am. Just weird. The happier I am, the more good things going on, the more distant I feel. The better I’m doing, the less supportive they are.”
“Yep!” Eli didn’t hesitate to agree. “And that’s not alright.”
I mussed his hair, “No, it’s not.”
The next week was more of the same. I registered for my fall classes and my books were delivered by Wednesday. I started reading. Yes, I'm that student. I liked to get a head start. I'd never taken classes in the fall. The first month of teaching was exhausting. It took time and energy to get first graders ready to learn. I wasn't sure how that would work with starting my classes. Getting ahead on reading seemed the safest approach.
Thursday afternoon Sebastian called. Drunk. I guess wrapping in Paris was worthy of a party. The rest of cast and crew were packing up and heading to Rome. Sebastian was flying halfway around the world to San Diego's Comic-Con. He'd spend thirty-two hours of his four day weekend in a plane, which meant he was drunk and a little grumpy. By the time I was done with him he was still drunk, but no longer grumpy. He was naked, smiling, and satisfied. Well, as satisfied as he could be over the phone. Even drunk he was insistent that he not see me masturbating for the first time on video. We should have taken care of this.
I set an alarm for the middle of the night to make sure he was awake and would make his plane. It was worth it to lay in bed together.
8 notes
·
View notes