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Design Review Program
Applicant's Toolbox: Design Guidelines

Multifamily and Commercial Buildings | Downtown Development | Neighborhood-Specific Design Guidelines

Design Review Guidelines for Multifamily and Commercial Buildings

<previous
C-4 Exterior Finish Materials
next>
D-1 Pedestrian Open Spaces
and Entrances

Guideline C-5: Structured Parking Entrances

photo by Weinstein AU
The presence and appearance of garage entrances should be minimized so that they do not dominate the street frontage of a building.


Examples

  • Subordinate the garage entrance to the pedestrian entrance in terms of size, prominence on the streetscape, location and design emphasis. Sometimes the relative importance of the garage entrance can be reduced by enhancing the pedestrian entrance.
  • Locate the entry on the side of the facade where it will draw less attention than if it is centered on the facade.
  • Recess the portion of the facade where the entry is located to help conceal it.
  • Extend portions of the structure over the garage entry to help conceal it.
  • Emphasize other elements of the facade to reduce the visual prominence of the garage entry.
  • Use screening and landscaping to soften the appearance of the garage entry from the street.
  • Locate the garage entry where the topography of the site can help conceal it.
<previous
C-4 Exterior Finish Materials
next>
D-1 Pedestrian Open Spaces
and Entrances

 

 

Last Updated: December 24, 2004

Upcoming Project Reviews
Each of the seven Design Review Boards meets twice a month. See the upcoming schedule. 

Past Meetings

Search the past meetings to find design proposals and reports of project reviews.

Digital Submissions
Applicants must provide a .pdf file of their design proposals to DPD ten calendar days in advance of a board meeting. Download the instructions. Ready to send? Submit your .pdf file.

Design Guidelines

Thirty design review guidelines for multifamily and commercial buildings--along with neighborhood-specific supplements--form the backbone of the City's Design Review Program in Seattle's neighborhoods. Separate guidelines govern downtown development.

In early 2012, DPD will be updating the design guidelines for multifamily and commercial development.

Gallery of Great Examples

5th and Bell
See the 5th and Bell project and other great examples of projects that were developed through the Design Review process.

Department of Planning and Development (DPD)
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