The intent is to create building facades throughout this development that are varied and articulated to provide visual interest and to establish a unique identity for the development. Each building shall include design elements as well as common materials, complimentary colors and detailing to provide continuity amongst buildings and to unite all structures within the development into one project concept.
The architecture shall express a creative presentation by careful attention to exterior building materials and details, use of fenestration, and change in building mass within the plan and roof design to lessen the plainness of appearance which can be characteristic of large commercial and multi-family residential buildings. The choice of materials and texture has great visual significance and can affect the long-term appearance of the city. Materials should be durable, economically maintained and of a quality that will maintain their appearance over a prolonged time. Proper selection of exterior building material is directly related to the durability of the building against weathering and damage from natural forces.
Buildings shall be organized to create a logical and identifiable relationship with the site and other buildings, open spaces, pedestrian and vehicle circulation. Site and building design should provide a visual demarcation of the public vs. service areas to provide intuitive wayfinding for visitors to the development.
Multiple buildings on a single parcel shall be permitted provided that the buildings on the site are consistent or compatible in architectural design and use of materials and organized utilizing a compatible planned open space, landscape plan, and parking plan to serve and maintain a unified concept.
All buildings within this development shall accommodate or incorporate the following in building design and materials:
A. All sides to each building shall receive high quality materials, finishes, and details (three hundred and sixty-degree (360°) architectural treatment). There are no "backs" to a building.
B. No standard corporate building design without modifications shall be implemented. Limited use of architectural elements characteristic of prototypical architecture may be allowed at the discretion of the appropriate reviewing and approval body. Implementation of these architectural elements shall be minimized and whenever possible modified to give a unique image to the establishment.
C. Entrances into buildings should be easily identified using building design and detailing. Projected or recessed entryways, change in rooflines, addition of awnings or changes in building material are examples that can create this effect.
D. Variation in building height, mass and roof forms shall be provided to create interest while still maintaining an overall building continuity. Roofs should not be designed as attention getting devices related to the reinforcement of signage or as an identifiable corporate image. Wall planes shall not be increased in height for the sole purpose of signage placement.
E. The use of building articulation and materials which break up the building mass into modules that respect a human scale and reflects proportions similar to other buildings within the development.
F. Variation in materials, material modules, expressed joints, textures, colors and details should be used to break up the mass of the buildings. Changes in materials shall be aligned with changes in plan or roof form to emphasize these changes in building mass and shall have the appearance of three-dimensional elements.
G. Shifts in building planes/facades and variation in exterior materials shall be incorporated to minimize long expanses of wall.
H. Efforts should be made to use clear glass on windows and doors and to define public entries for occupied spaces to promote the linkage of the interior and exterior of buildings and provide natural light.
I. Hard materials such as brick, stone, architectural concrete, or concrete masonry units are desired as the major elements of the building facades. Architectural metal, EIFS or synthetic stucco and composite materials acceptable to the city may be incorporated as minor elements in the design. Use of vinyl materials is discouraged.
J. Trim and structural elements such as posts or columns shall be sized to the scale of the building. (Ord. 2615, 7-17-2024)