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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-12-22 NAC Ltr to OPH Re Elevation Plan Review and Project Relatedis NORTHWEST ASSOCIATED CONSULTANTS INC COMMUNITY PLANNING - DESIGN - MARKET RESEARCH MEMORANDUM TO: Kris Danielson FROM: Scott Richards DATE: December 22, 1999 RE: Oak Park Heights — Post Office FILE NO: 798.02 — 99.14 As per your request, our office has again reviewed the elevation plans for the U.S. Post Office proposed for the Kern Center. The architect for the project had asked for clarification on how the City would address its Design Guidelines in reviewing the submitted building plans. The Post Office would qualify under the classification of industrial and warehouse buildings, as found on page 6 of the Design Guidelines. A copy of that section of the Design Guidelines labeled "Architecture" is attached. Under that section, we make the following findings and recommendations: Custom Architecture. The building would be regarded as custom as opposed to franchise architecture. This section of the Design Guidelines suggests that the Stillwater High School is considered as a key component of the area and a continuation of that architectural style, colors, and materials is desired. All of the new commercial buildings in the west commercial area that have been constructed since the adoption of the guidelines have incorporated the materials, colors and patterns found in the Stillwater High School structure. We would suggest the following for the Post Office. Facade and Roof Articulation. There is a minor amount of roof articulation. We would suggest additional roof articulation to further enhance the roof line of this structure and to emphasize the entrances into the structure. Architectural Materials. The proposed building material consist primarily of brick, glass (Grade 1) and concrete block with specialty texture (Grade 11). Industrial and warehouse buildings are to use at least two different Grade 1 and 11 materials and be comprised of at least 65 percent of these two grades. The building as proposed 5775 WAYZATA BOULEVARD, SUITE 555 ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA 554 1 6 PHONE 6 1 2-595-9636 FAX 6 1 2-595-9837 E-MAIL NAG@ WINTERNET.COM complies with these requirements. We question the use of the pre- finished metal panels on the south elevation. Will this be flush with the facade or will it be a canopy over the loading docks? Additional clarification on this matter is requested. Composition and Detailing. The building will use at least three high quality (Grade 1 and 11) materials. The building does not provide enough roof or facade articulation, variation in material types, or provision of windows to adequately break up long expanses of those elevations visible from Memorial Avenue and 55 Street. We would suggest that the east, south and north elevations be redesigned to include the following: 1. Additional roof and facade articulation. 2. Use of a darker block on the lower facade with a lighter color on the upper one - quarter or one - -third of the facade. The use of the thin, contrasting darker bands of block tend to make the building look much wider and larger. The building needs more vertical breaks. 3. Too few windows are used on all of the elevations, especially the easterly elevation. Using larger windows that are accented with architectural detail will reduce the horizontal nature of the building. Color. The building plans as submitted include references for brick and block color that are specified in the supplemental materials. We would recommend color renderings be submitted or at least samples of the building materials be provided to review the color palette that has been chosen. The Design Guidelines reference the Stillwater High school as being the basis for which materials colors should be selected for buildings in the area. Screening. The plans do not indicate any roof, wall or ground mounted mechanical equipment that will be visible on or above the building facades. If there is to be any exterior mechanical equipment, it shall be screened as provided in the Design Guidelines. If there are any questions or additional definition necessary, please do not hesitate to call.