ORD 2172 - Laserfiche WebLink

Pedestrian Scale Buildings should appear to be designed at a pedestrian scale. In general, this means using familiar forms and elements that can be interpreted in human dimensions. • On buildings over 50,000 square feet and more than two stories-high, do not use wall planes more than 24 feet high without incorporating meaningful techniques to break up the perceived building mass. • Express facade components in ways that help establish building scale. Encourage compositions that emphasize floor lines or express rhythms and patterns of windows, columns, and other architectural features. Entrances Primary pedestrian entrances should be easily identifiable and attractive to pedestrians. • Design main entrances to be clearly identifiable as seen from primary driveways and drop-offs. - Entrances should be designed as contrasting areas on a building's facade. • Use building entranceways as transitions from buildings to the ground plane. Specific criteria include: - Walls, terraces, grading, and plant materials should be incorporated. - Terraces or porticos can be used to define and extend entrances. • Design secondary entrances to connect to pedestrian circulation systems. These entrances should be visible from parking areas. They may also be more subdued. Color and Materials Palette Visual continuity in major building materials is desired throughout the project area. • Use wall materials that are muted in color and have texture. Specific criteria include the following: - Natural matte textures and earth tone colors are encouraged. Textured, colored concrete may also be considered. - The use of fine textured materials, such as brick, cast stone, tile, and textured block are encouraged. Horizontally textured concrete, stucco and dark metal panels or glass spandrel panels may be suitable if used at a scale visually related to pedestrians. - Wood is not appropriate as a primary building material. • Reserve the use of strongly contrasting materials and colors for accents, such as building entrances, railings, stairs, etc. Avoid an excessive variety of facade materials. • If glass is proposed at pedestrian levels, use clear or lightly tinted low-e glass (glazing), particularly at pedestrian levels where transparency between indoor and outdoor spaces is desirable. • Select building materials that will age with grace. Avoid light colored materials that may streak, fade, stain, generate glare, or detract from the natural setting. • Glass with reflective, metallic coatings that increase glare is discouraged. • Site-cast concrete should provide effective articulation. • Large expanses of stucco visible from public areas are discouraged.