Agenda - Council - 12/14/2004 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Ramsey Municipal Center - Site Plan November 24, 2004 Page 4 o1"7 TC-I Building Design, Character, and Expression: The Guidelines state the buildings in the TC-1 District should emphasize transparency at the street level and promote interesting, animated architecture that is not thematic or comprised of faux decorative elements, provide a variety of building types and sty[es, and avoid large, unarticulated facades. The exterior wall of the Ramsey Municipal Center is curved and pulls back from the sidewalk at the middle of the building .to both the east and west. The exterior along Sunwood Drive includes quality material with 53% of the surface comprised of brick with another 28% comprised of stone. Many window openings are located on the first and second floors along Sunwood to break up the exterior Wall as well. The areas around the Window will utilize stone material that will provide for some articulation of the Sunwood Drive fa,cade.. The inclusion of windows on the first story as well as the presence of significant glazing at the Sunwood Drive entrance will provide for the effect of transparency described in the Development Guidelines. The need for transparency along the rest of the fa,cade along Sunwood Drive to promote "window shopping" is tess important since the building will be used for offices and not for retail. However, the windows will allow for "eyes on the street" which is mentioned in the Development Guidelines. In reviewing the design of the building, the TCTAC had concerns regarding the look and feel of the Sunwood Drive fa,cade. The group felt that the present design did not engage the pedestrians and should become more architecturally "animated". They felt that rear fa,cade of bu!lding demonstrated some great design. They recommended that some of the elements contained on the south side of the building should be carried over. They also felt that there needed to be more depth and articulation on the Sunwood Drive facade as well as the inclusion of some roof forms to make the fagade more distinct. Overall, the TCTAC recommended some improvements be made to the Stmwood Drive fac, adc that would better engage the pedestrian, provide for more articulation and depth on the fagade, look at providing some roof forms, and emula{e some of the qualities of the south fagade. TC-! Scale, Proportion, and Building Height: The Guidelines state that a variety, of buildings heights. should be located along any given block, the front facade should be articulated with projections and recesses, and promote multiple stories as the' norm. There will be a variety of building heights along the block. The Ramsey Municipal Center will be a two story building and the future City parking ramp will be four levels. These building heights will provide for the natural progression of the feel of density as you get further into the core area. The curve of the facade along Sunwood Drive will not allow the height of the Ramsey Municipal Center to overwhelm pedestrians. -The front entrance will be recessed and provide for an infbrmal public plaza. As has been previously mentioned, the TCTAC' recommended the creation of more articulation of the Sunwood Drive ~k,cade to better embrace the intent oil the Development Guidelines. ?C-/ S/reel Prese~vce.' The Guidelines state that the architectural element should emphasize the street experience I~or the pedestrian with architectural features at the street level such as canopies or decorative l:ixmres, encourage the variety of color, texture, and material of the building, conceal service entrances and mechanical equipment from the street, and attempt to create a continuous building edge :.dong street frontage. The TCT.*C feels strongly that the Ik,cade along Sunwood Drive needs to be improved to make for a better pedestrian experience as has been previously mentioned. Suitable t'cvisio:n.5 co thc r'ac,'act,; v'~iii make ti~e building more in compliant: vvidx tlxc Street ?t'~sence