- Year Built: 2007
- Address: 2720 3rd Avenue
- Architect: Mithun
- Developer: Belltown Development Partners LLC
- Design Review Board: Downtown
- Design Guidelines Applied: Design Review Guidelines for Downtown Development and Belltown Neighborhood Guidelines
- Size: 12 story, 160 unit apartment, 5700 sq ft retail at ground level, 157 parking stalls in below and above grade garage
- Zoned: DMR/C (Downtown Mixed Residential/Commercial)
Design Guidelines Met
The Downtown Design Review Board determined the following Design Review Guidelines for Downtown Development and Belltown Neighborhood Guidelines were the most important for the designers to address:
Guideline A-1: Respond to the physical environment.
The building's concept and massing relate well the the surrounding environment. The 4 story, 50 foot datum line of the structure's base aligns with the lower, more human-scale buildings in the neighborhood. The "L" shaped volume above the 50 foot plinth reduces the appearance of the mass and affords more views of the Space Needle from the building and the surrounding area, and the orientation of the mass encourages programming and pedestrian uses on both 3rd Ave. and Clay Street.
Guideline A-2: Enhance the skyline.
The design of the sculpted, overhanging rooftop enhances the skyline, complements the Space Needle and screens the rooftop equipment from the street.
Guideline B-1: Respond to the neighborhood context.
The masonry base of the building relates to nearby three and four story Bellwtown apartments. The upper floors, in turn, respond to the area's newer glass and steel towers. The pilasters are spaced regularly and frame large expanses of inset glazing. There is a lack of ornamentation and all elements used reinforce a warehouse look, a nod to Belltown's past as a warehousing and light manufacturing center.
Guideline B-2: Create a transition in bulk and scale.
The design for the building's upper corners is as transparent as possible and the south facade's corners are notched to reduce the building's bulk and provide more sight lines to the Space Needle. The four story, 50 foot height of the base provides human scale, pleasing proportion, and achieves a good balance among the varying scales found in the Denny Regrade neighborhood.
Guideline B-4: Design a well-proportioned and unified building.
The design exhibits a clear base, middle and top in pleasing proportions. There is a strong contrast in materials -- in both color and texture -- which further differentiate the base from the middle. The design is unified through the rhythm of the large frames, pilasters and glazing which encompasses both the base and the middle.
The base is further broken down into modules framed by brick pilasters that project from the building, giving the appearance of townhouses at the street level. The design created five bays on Clay Street and 3rd Avenue which allows the eye to focus on the odd center bay instead of columns in even numbered bays.
Guideline C-1: Promote pedestrian interaction.
The relationship between public and private spaces along Clay Street, a green street, has been well thought out.
Guideline C-2: Design facades at many scales.
The four story base creates a strong image from a distance and is also finely detailed and scaled when viewed at the close up pedestrian scale, evidenced by the low gates, entry canopies and brick facade. The entries are both private and secure, yet open and inviting.
Guideline C-5: Encourage overhead weather protection.
The design incorporates generous, continuous overhead weather protection, with ribs and clear glazing that protect pedestrians and afford light to the street and storefronts.
Guideline C-6: Develop the alley facade.
The materials and glazing wrap around the building’s corners into the alley for several bays.
Guideline D-3: Provide elements that define the place.
The corner is highlighted by a circular paving pattern that bumps the sidewalk out further into the right of way and is framed by a low wall which creates a safe and inviting place for people to sit and provides protection from the street.
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