DESIGN REVIEW NARRATIVE

2. BUILDING DESIGN

A. Building Concept

Our vision for this project is to create a thriving mixed-use community which anchors the western end of Meeker Street. Our design connects the Marquee community to the natural amenities of the Green River trails and golf course, while also being within close proximity to schools, services, and local businesses. A beacon along Meeker Street, our podiums will welcome visitors and call residents home, while our urban quads organically blend into the heritage trees along the riverfront. The two modern podium buildings contain 12,000 SF total retail spaces, with a premiere design that features large, operable storefronts with adjacent exterior lifestyle patios. Above the 20-foot high concrete podium deck, each building will have four levels of wood frame construction of 120 residential flats, for a total of 240 flat units. A mix of unit types ranging from studios, one, and two-bedroom unit plans offers a wide variety for future residents desiring the carefree lifestyle that this gateway community will offer. The overall height of each building will be between sixty and seventy feet. The dynamic roofline design and material palette create a visual connection throughout the development. These two podium style buildings create the “lights on” backdrop for a successful commercial retail place-making element for this mixed-use community.

There are (21) - twelve unit contemporary urban style walk-up buildings for a total of 252 units. This smaller, ground-related building type will benefit the site by having less of an impact on the adjacent existing natural character of the site along the river’s edge and pedestrian-bicycle pathway. The 4,000 SF average building footprint design will maximize the potential to save existing landscaping and view vistas found throughout this picturesque shoreline site. A mix of one, two and three-bedroom unit type plans create a village environment that will appeal to families, seniors and young professionals. We strongly believe that offering two distinct multi-family product types will complement each other and allow a more diversified community that will have a broad representation of the resident profile of the community of Kent. The overall height of each building will between thirty-five and forty feet with dynamic roofline design and materials for a strong unifying connection between the building types. High-quality exterior cladding will be used throughout the development. This cladding choice will endure the northwest climate, have a contemporary look that will complement the project, all while targeting the highest level of the market. Materials in consideration are steel, glass, exposed concrete, aluminum storefronts, metal accents, cementitious panels and accent green screens. For the podium building we provide balconies or patios as shown in the following plans. We will also provide windows separated through the use of molding, and windows with small, multiple panes. Different materials are selected for the ground floor that are distinct from the upper stories, one with a set back of at least 6 feet, at the roof deck adjacent to the plaza.

B. Human Scale and Pedestrian Orientation

For the podium building, we will provide windows that are separated through the use of molding and utilize multiple small panes, less than 32 square feet per pane. Different materials will be used for the ground story that are distinct from upper stories. Canopies will be utilized along the facades adjacent to the pedestrian-oriented plaza. The top floor of the podium building has a set back on the top level roof deck adjacent to the plaza. The urban quad buildings will utilize windows with small multiple panes, and individual windows generally less than 32 square feet per pane and separated from other windows. The quad buildings will also include balconies on each of the units.

C. Architectural Scale

On the podium building, we will include an upper story setback as well as horizontal building modulation, as explained by the design review guidelines, and a modulated roof line. The podium building will also have facades adjacent to the plaza, a pedestrian-oriented open space. The urban quads will include building modulation and a modulated roof line.

D. Building Details and Elements

The podium buildings will utilize an articulated roofline, an arcade by the plaza, and decorative building materials, including brick. The urban quads will include an articulated roofline, decorative building materials such as wood paneling.

E. Materials and Colors

On the podium building we will utilize brick, architectural concrete, and storefront at the base. The upper levels will differ at each modulation, utilizing neutral fiber cement panels. The urban quads will also utilize neutral tones with some accent colors and wood siding; predominantly sticking to a pacific northwest-inspired color scheme.

F. Blank Walls

Blank walls along Meeker Street will be treated utilizing planters and vertical trellises in compliance with the recommendations laid out in the design guidelines. In addition, a mix of architectural concrete and landscape screening may be used to add texture and variation at the base of the podium buildings.